SWINDON'S Jazz Carlin has made a winning start to the Mare Nostrum Series with a gold medal in Canet yesterday.

Carlin was competing in the 1500m freestyle and carved out a strong lead throughout the race to continue her fine recent form in the pool.

She won the final with a time of 16:09.69 ahead of Maria Vilas Vidal, of Spain, and fellow Brit Jessica Thielmann who took bronze.

The Tigersharks swimmer will be back in action today as she competes in the 400m freestyle alongside Thielmann.