Swimming: Rebecca Adlington tips Jazz Carlin to break British record

Carlin's campaign at the World Championships starts on Sunday

Double Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington admits her 800m freestyle British record is under threat from Jazz Carlin.

Welsh swimmer Carlin, 24, has targeted Adlington's record as she aims for gold at the World Championships in Russia.

Carlin will need to improve her personal best by over a second to set a new mark, but Adlington feels her seven-year-old record can be beaten.

"I don't see why not. She's worked so hard, she's experienced," she said.

"She's just not quite had the perfect time - things have got in the way and new people have come into the sport.

"She's learned from that though and I think she's got an amazing chance."

Illness prevented Carlin from competing at the 2012 London Olympics, where Adlington won bronze behind American Katie Ledecky and Spaniard Mireia Belmonte.

But since then Carlin has thrived, becoming Commonwealth and European champion and setting personal bests over 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m.

Ledecky, who broke Adlington's 800m world record in 2013 and lowered it further to eight minutes, 11.00 seconds in 2014, will start as overwhelming favourite for gold at the World Championships.

But Adlington said: "Belmonte isn't actually going to the World Championships because of an injury, so it's a perfect opportunity for Jazz that she could easily get up there.

"But Katie Ledecky, the USA girl that is the current world champion and world record holder, is just an out-and-out superstar that's going to be a tough one to race."

Carlin's first race at the World Championships will be the 400m freestyle on Sunday. The 800m heats begin on 7 August, with the final the following day.

In between, Carlin could also compete in the 200m and 1500m on Tuesday.