DOUBLE Olympic silver medallist Jazz Carlin said it never crossed her mind to step away from the pool following her success in Rio.

Rewind four years and it was almost a very different story, with the now-26-year-old Swindon swimmer contemplating turning her back on the sport, having missed out on performing at her home Olympics in London through illness.

However, Carlin has just enjoyed her best year to date, claiming Olympic silver medals in the 400m and 800m freestyle events at the Games in Brazil.

Now the Tigersharks swimmer heads into 2017 with the World Championships in Budapest on the horizon and a new-found confidence.

“Looking back at 2016, it has been an incredible year and very emotional. I had been dreaming and aiming for Rio for so long, so for it to all come together and come away with two silvers still feels so special,” she told the Advertiser.

“After Rio, I was so happy and it didn’t really come across my mind that I wanted to stop.

“It actually gave me the confidence that I can compete against the best in the world and while I’m still improving, I would love to still be up there against the best.

“I will always love competing and pushing my body, so it didn’t feel right to stop something that I love doing.”

Carlin has since returned to the pool and is back into a gruelling training schedule, something she admitted was tough to do.

However, with an altitude training camp in Mexico next month to look forward to, Carlin is determined to hit the ground running and prove that she can improve even more and continue to compete for medals.

“I’ve always loved racing since I was a young girl and that motivates me every day to keep competing and to be the best I can be,” added Carlin, who is even talking about the next Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.

“Training can be very tough at times, but it makes it all worth it when you get to step on the blocks and compete against the best.

“My next target is the World Championship trials in April. I’m still working to improve myself and to keep competing against the best in the world.

“This year I’ve learnt to believe in myself and have confidence that I can compete against the best.

“Since missing out on London, confidence has always been something I have struggled with, but competing in Rio definitely gave me the confidence I need.”