World Aquatics Championships: Jazz Carlin has point to prove

Jazz Carlin admits she has a point to prove at the World Championships following her Olympic disappointment.

The 22-year-old freestyle swimmer missed out on London 2012 after she was hampered by ill-health and poor form.

Carlin won three golds at the British Championships and is in the British team at the Worlds in Barcelona.

"I've been working really hard after the tough disappointment of not making the Olympics," Carlin said. "But it's definitely made me stronger."

She added: "I've got a new drive and determination. I have a point to prove this year."

Carlin admits she was devastated at not being able to realise her dream of competing at the Olympics after missing out on selection for the GB swimming team.

But the Swindon-born swimmer who represents Wales acknowledges she would not have been at her best at London 2012 after her training programme was interrupted by glandular fever and tonsillitis.

"I would have loved to have been there but looking back at last year I wasn't ready for it," Carlin added. "I was ill every few weeks and my body just couldn't handle it.

"This year I've come back, I've had a solid block of training which I think has really paid off and showed in my racing. I've never had that winter block without illness and injury.

"Moving forward it's great to see that my times are what they are this year and hopefully I can go even faster.

"I'm always going to keep pushing. I'm pushing times in training that I didn't think I would be able to.

"You always want more and I'll be shooting for more every year."

Carlin enjoyed an impressive British Championships in Sheffield, winning three gold medals in the 400m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle events.

She will be competing in those three events in Barcelona rather than the 200m which she has concentrated on in the past.

Her coach, Bud McAllister, has said that he believes Carlin has the talent and the focus to break the world record at 1,500m.

"I've focused more on the distance events including the 1,500m which is in the World Championship programme," Carlin added.

"I've always enjoyed doing the 200m freestyle - that's what I got a silver in at the [2010] Commonwealth Games.

"But I have struggled with the front-end speed that some of the other girls have.

"It was only this year when I got into the distance training that my coach said 'you could do a good 1,500m'.

"I hadn't done one in six years so it was a bit nerve-wracking doing an event that I wasn't really experienced at.

"But to come away with a British record at the trials, I've enjoyed it a bit more now."