COMMONWEALTH and European double medallist Jazz Carlin has been named in British Swimming’s 2015 performance squads for Podium and Podium Potential athletes who will receive direct support from UK Sport through the World Class Performance Programme.

Sixty-four athletes across Podium (21) and Podium Potential (43) will receive targeted financial assistance through an Athlete Personal Award (APA) in addition to training camp and competition opportunities, sports science and medicine services, and the support of British Swimming World Class Programme staff.

Podium level support identifies athletes who have the potential to medal in 2016 while Podium Potential support marks a longer term investment by supporting athletes who are considered to have a greater chance of medalling in 2020.

Tigershark Carlin won gold medals in both the 400m and 800m freestyle at the European Championships in Berlin in the summer, just weeks after winning a gold in the 800m free and a silver in the 400m at the Commonweath Games in Glasgow.

British Swimming National Performance Director Chris Spice said: “This APA funding programme is a vital investment in future performance. It will provide valuable support to athletes for their continued preparation and development for success in 2016 and beyond.

“In defining our nominations to UK Sport, we performed a detailed analysis of athletes and their performances before meeting them face-to-face to discuss the pursuit of their goals in Rio or Tokyo. We have had to make some very tough decisions this year due to some outstanding performances last season, especially by our younger athletes.

“I’d like to thank UK Sport and the National Lottery for their continued investment which ensures our athletes are among the best supported in the world. The challenge for us all is to build on the solid foundation of last season and make 2015 even better.”

British Swimming Head of Performance Pathway Tim Jones said: “We have taken a much more holistic view to selecting athletes on to programme. It isn’t solely based on times achieved, it’s a broader view than that and we are now investing in a cohort of people that are more likely to bring us long term success.

“Athletes have also been drawn from the younger end of the age scale. Whereas we continue to invest in the likes of Duncan Scott we’ve also added exciting talent such as Luke Greenbank – both athletes impressed this year with titles at both European Junior and Youth Olympic level.

“I believe we now have a group of young athletes that is more focused on the journey to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics than ever before and this is the UK Sport target for Podium Potential selection.”