EVEN Olympic medallists have to start somewhere and for Jazz Carlin, that journey began in the small hydro pool on Milton Road in Swindon.

At just four years of age she joined the Swindon Tigersharks ‘learn to swim’ programme and the club would go on to play a significant part in her life as she progressed through her swimming career.

Lesley Leffers, Head Coach at the Tigersharks, joined many of us across the country in the early hours of Monday morning as she watched Jazz clinch her silver medal.

“I think I sort of knew from the way she swam in the heat that she could do it,” said Lesley.

“It was a more confident Jazz, she looked relaxed and I had a feeling she was going to really do something.

“We knew that nobody was going to beat Katie Ledecky so for us getting the silver was almost like getting the gold.

"It’s all been worth it - her staying power is incredible, she’s had to work so hard for everything she has achieved leading up to last night.”

At the age of 12 and 13 Jazz was swimming in national championships and by 14, she was breaking British records.

Throughout those years the Tigersharks club became like a second home.

Lesley added: “The whole of this club were a huge support to Jazz through the years, her parents have been so committed to her and her sport all the way through as well.

“She is such a hard worker, she doesn’t do the normal going out drinking and girly holidays – she’s put that on hold to focus on her swimming.”

Even now that she is competing at the highest level, Jazz still comes down to Tigersharks to train and to teach the kids when she’s back home.

She recently spent 45 minutes with a 12-year-old swimmer at the club, working on his turns and helping him to improve, such is the time she has for the youngsters following in her path.

And in a show of appreciation, the kids gathered at her hotel ahead of her departure to Rio for a surprise send-off.

The banners they made for her now take pride of place on her wall in the athlete's village in Rio.

“She’s a delight, I just can’t tell you how supportive she is – you just can’t fault her,” said Lesley.

One of her former coaches at Tigersharks, Phil Millard, was with Jazz the day after glandular fever cost her the dream of a place at her home Olympics four years ago.

“I saw her the day after for a coffee and we walked down to the pool to watch the final which she should have not only been in, but winning,” said Phil.

“It was such a massive disappointment, but she told me then that she’d never forgive herself if she didn’t give it one more go.

“She’s been training for 20 hours plus for the last 14 years – dedication, hard work, success, failure, coming back from massive disappointments yet still hugely determined.

“She has shown such strength of character and I’m just delighted for her.”