Swimming: Jazz Carlin says it has been 'tough' without coach

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Jazz Carlin is enrolled on a business and accountancy degree at Swansea University

Welsh swimmer Jazz Carlin says she has had to push herself to achieve success after coach Bud McAllister left for a job in Australia.

The 23-year-old Commonwealth gold medallist had been flying to Australia to train with McAllister since he left his Swansea role in March.

Carlin then became European champion in August, but did so without a coach.

"It's been really tough, I've really had to be motivated and determined," she said.

"I haven't had a group to train with so I had to get on with it myself.

"It's not the easiest but obviously I was so driven for the Commonwealth Games and the Europeans. I'm going to have to look for a new coach in the next few weeks."

Carlin became the first Welsh woman since Pat Beavan in 1974 to win a Commonwealth swimming title when she took gold in the 800m freestyle.

She followed that up less than a month later with a championship record time of eight minutes 15.54 seconds to win gold for Great Britain in the 800m in Germany.

Carlin added: "I think I've put myself in the best position now with the times that I'm going - I really want to build on that and be faster going into Rio.

"I want to be fighting for the medals, I don't just want to be making the team."

Watch more of Carlin's interview at 19:00 BST on Sport Wales on Friday 29 August on 91热爆 Two Wales and on the iPlayer.