Olympics swimming: GB's Caitlin McClatchey ponders politics career

Team GB's Caitlin McClatchey is contemplating a career in politics after the 'overwhelming' experience of swimming in three Olympic finals.

The 26-year-old from Northampton was seventh in the 200m freestyle and part of the squad that finished fifth in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays at London 2012.

She plans to compete at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

But McClatchey said: "I've got a degree in politics and want to pursue a political career at some point."

She told BBC Radio Northampton: "It's something I'm interested in and I really love getting people into sport, so if I can put those two together and find a perfect job role with those two involved, that would be fantastic."

McClatchey, the girlfriend of GB team-mate Liam Tancock, won two gold medals for Scotland at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in the 200m and 400m freestyle.

However, she admitted: "I'm completely overwhelmed. If someone had said to me two years ago that I would be in three Olympic finals, I would have said 'I don't think so', just because I've had such a tough couple of years, being injured and illness.

"I kind of hit rock bottom really and it's all down to my coach Ian Armiger really for getting me through and helping me see the light at the end of the tunnel and regain my love for the sport again.

McClatchey won her 200m freestyle heat in London in 1 min 58.03 secs before improving her time to 1:57.33 for second place in her semi-final.

She could not match that in the final, clocking 1:57.60 behind Allison Schmitt of the United States, who powered to the gold medal in an Olympic record time of 1:53.61.

McClatchey believes it is unlikely she will continue in the sport until the Rio de Janeiro Games in four years' time.

"I think it might be my last Olympic Games but obviously, Glasgow 2014 is coming up in two years and because I represent Scotland, it would be fantastic to do a home Commonwealth Games," she added.