Great Britain is bringing its strongest group of athletes in years to the 2015 FINA World Championships, as names like Adam Peaty, Fran Halsall, Hannah Miley and Chris Walker-Hebborn headline the roster. Another big-time player on the women’s side in the distance freestyle events is Jaz Carlin, but the 24-year old’s schedule is one event shy than what was expected.
Carlin is positioned as the second seed headed into Kazan in both the 400m freestyle and 800m freestyle events, ranked only behind American powerhouse and world record holder Katie Ledecky. Surprisingly, though, the Welsh swimmer is missing from the women’s 1500m freestyle race, where her best time of this year, 16:09.69 from Canet, would have logged her as the event’s 9th seed.
As such, GBR teammate Jessica Thielmann is the lone representative in the women’s 1500m freestyle event where she is ranked 11th with her time of 16:15.74. That registers as Thielmann’s personal best, where her fastest of 2015 is the 16:23.23 performance from Canet.
For her part, Carlin may be content with just the two events if only to mentally get past the disappointment of 2012 where her glandular fever affliction left her unable to qualify for the London Olympic Games. Carlin then missed out on a medal at the 2013 World Championships by just .14 of a second. Of the experience, Carlin reflects, “I nearly walked away from the sport after missing out on 2012. It really does make you appreciate everything. I think once you’ve gone through the hard times, it really does make you realize how much you’ve gone through and how much you appreciate what you do.”
Regarding her training a preparation going into this year’s edition of Worlds, however, Carlin told Wales Online, “I’ve been really happy with how things are going. For me, whenever you go to a big competition internationally, you really want to be at your best and be on the podium. I’m looking forward to the World Championships, that’s why you do all the training and I can’t wait to get going.”
The women’s 400m freestyle event is scheduled for Sunday, August 2nd, with the 800m freestyle being contested on Saturday, August 8th.
This is no great surprise. It seemed a mistake for her in 2013, when without it she would likely have made the 800m final. She didn’t swim the even last year in the Euros, or this year at the British champs. She would rather consolidate her position in the 4x200m, a possible medal winner, than waste her energy in the 1500m.
Furthermore, British Swimming have been very reluctant to select people for non-olympic events.
A few mild surprises for GB:
Jarvis over Renwick in the 200m free
No Walker-Hebborn in the 50m back
No Barrett in the 50m fly
Halsall only doing 50m free and fly
O’Connor only doing 200m free and IM
No… Read more »
I don,t know if jazz carlin has improved her turns. If she has then theoretically she can swim as fast as ledecky in the 400 and 800 free as they have similar speed in the swimming phase.
so we have to wait and see if she has improved her turns.
I don’t see why this has got downvotes, for once we agree, Carlo.
To quote Bud McAllister, “She just can’t jump” – He shared the view that Carlin could go far faster than her current PB if she could simply turn as well as an average swimmer. Her talent really is overlooked in Britain and abroad – People forget she is the only woman other than Ledecky to surpass Evans without a super-suit. That highlights Ledecky’s huge talent, she is regarded as so dominant over the second fastest of all time.. Mind-boggling.
Her 800 free is her best event overall, but in my opinion her 400 free has been more impressive this year. My time predictions for her at worlds:
400 FREE: 4:02.20
800 FREE: 8:13.99 BRITISH RECORD)
Smart decision from Carlin.
Her best event is the 800 free and she must keep her energy for the end of the week.