JAZZ Carlin admits the nerves are jangling as she prepares to tackle the biggest six months of her career but the Wiltshire swimmer is convinced she is primed for success on the biggest stage.

With the British Swimming Championships in Glasgow – which also double as trials for Olympic selection – in two weeks’ time, followed by the European Aquatics Championships in London in May and then hopefully the Rio Olympic Games come August, Carlin won’t have much downtime over the next few months.

The Swindon ace, who now lives in Bradford on Avon, is also looking to vanquish the demons of 2012 when glandular fever followed by a bout of tonsillitis heartbreakingly ruled her out of the selection race for a home Olympics in London.

The 25-year-old has put that disappointment behind her to become one of the world’s best freestyle swimmers in the years since and is relishing the opportunities the near future will bring.

“The season has been going well and it’s always an exciting one when it’s an Olympic year so I am just really looking forward to getting stuck in at the British Swimming Championships and then hopefully the Europeans and Rio,” said Carlin, winner of 800m freestyle bronze at last year’s World Championships.

“Coming into a major championships it’s always a bit nervy but all the long hours and early mornings are so you can come to the competitions and race well.

“So it’s back to Glasgow for the British Swimming Championships where I have great memories of the Commonwealth Games and hopefully I’ll have a big smile on my face at the end of it.

“It was tough not to make the team in 2012 but you have to pick yourself up and I feel a lot stronger mentally and physically.”

Carlin truly hit top form in 2014 as she won European and British titles in both the 400m and 800m freestyle while the Commonwealth Games saw her notch gold in the 800m and silver over 400m.

If the Welsh star can rubberstamp her place in Rio during April’s trials she will be part of the British swimming team competing at the European Aquatics Championships in London from May 9-22.

The European Aquatics Championships will be the biggest event held at the London Aquatics Centre since the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and will represent the last chance to see Great British athletes in action before they fly to Rio.

And Carlin is already looking forward to the chance to repeat her European success of 2014 in front of a home crowd.

“Two years ago at the Europeans I came away with two gold medals so I am hoping to come away with some great success in May,” added Carlin, who has been named as an official ambassador for the European Aquatics Championships.

“It’ll be great for the British team to have a home crowd supporting us and I think that can spur us on even further.

“The Europeans are at a great time, just before the Olympics and there are so many different competitors coming in together and you are racing against a world class field.

“We don’t have a lot of international competitions in the UK so I am hoping I can be at the Europeans and on my game to swim well for everyone that is in the crowd.”

Tickets for the European Aquatics Championships – the biggest event to be held at the London Aquatics Centre since the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games – from May 9-22 are now available here: www.euroaquatics2016.london