JAZZ Carlin may be one of Great Britain’s leading hopes going into the forthcoming World Championships but the Swindon freestyle swimmer is taking nothing for granted.

During the last 12 months, Carlin has been busy expanding her medal collection, taking silver and gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow before following that up with double European Championship gold.

However, it has not always been a continued stream of trips to the podium with a bout of glandular fever wrecking her dreams of a home Olympics in 2012, while she missed out on a World Championship medal in the 400m freestyle by 0.14 seconds a year after.

But Carlin is very much on form this year again, completing a clean sweep of the medals at the British Championships in April as well as four successes at the Mare Nostrum series in Barcelona and Canet last month.

And with the World Championships, which get underway in Kazan, Russia, on August 2, quickly approaching, the 24-year-old is determined to seize her chance.

“I’ve been really happy with how things are going,” said Carlin. “It’s not an easy sport to be a part of and it’s a lot of hours, a lot of training so when you get the benefits and the rewards it really does make all the training worth it.

“For me, whenever you go to a big competition internationally, you really want to be at your best and be on the podium “I’m looking forward to the World Championships, that’s why you do all the training and I can’t wait to get going.

“I nearly walked away from the sport after missing out on 2012. It really does make you appreciate everything. I think once you’ve gone through the hard times, it really does make you realise how much you’ve gone through and how much you appreciate what you do.

“I do love swimming, I think it’s a great sport, I’m lucky to have all the experiences to travel the world and be on the podium in some of the great events.

“For me, I thought I would give it one last shot and see how it goes. I’m pretty lucky I did take that last chance.”

This year’s World Championships carry added significance with Rio 2016 quickly coming into focus on the horizon.

As one of the experienced members in the British Swimming set up, Carlin is determined to keep herself ready and right in the mix.

“Four years ago it was all about London and it’s now all about Rio,” she added.

“I’m not young anymore, I’m one of the seniors on the team, one of the more experienced ones. It is a bit different being on that other side. I’m using all my experience to make me better and to improve.

“I think I put the pressure on myself, I always want to be the best I can be.

“I don’t want to happen again what happened in 2012. It’s all about doing what you can and that’s all you can ask from yourself.

“It’s the same pool, the same race, you can only do your best. I don’t see it as pressure. I always try and remember that.”

Jazz Carlin is one of 1,300 athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery supported World Class Programme. Find out more www.uksport.gov.uk