JAZZ Carlin topped off a ‘dream’ year last weekend claiming silver at the World Short Course Championships and now has her eyes firmly set on Rio in two years time.

As well as her podium finish in the 800m freestyle she also recorded a British best time en route to the final, as well as a Welsh record in her weaker event, the 200m.

The 24-year-old feels she is in a strong position but knows she must put in the hard work during the close season to put her in the best position to book her place on the plane to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games in 2016.

“I was excited to race again after having such a great summer but to come away with a silver medal has finished off what has been an amazing year. I was absolutely over the moon,” said the former Wootton Bassett student, who has achieved a lot of her goals this year.

“Any competition you go into you want to strive to be on the podium and you want to be at the top but realistically in my head, not being the strongest short course swimmer, I wasn’t sure if my confidence was where it should have been.

“I didn’t have high expectations but I wanted to go in and give it a good go, so to come away with two best times I was really happy with.

“It is a lot faster than where I was this time last year so it is about moving in the right direction and progressing in the next couple of years.

“It is not long until Rio now so it is about putting in all the hard work behind the scenes.

“It is nice to go to a competition and for it to pay off and to come away with a medal at a world championship is pretty amazing.

“I think when you have put in all the hours of training and you get the results you have dreamed for it is an amazing feeling and I am hoping to carry that on into the next couple of years now leading in to Rio.”