University of Bath-based swimmer Jazz Carlin will bid for her second medal of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in the early hours of Saturday morning after qualifying third-fastest for the 800m freestyle final.
Full of confidence after her superb silver medal in the 400m freestyle, Carlin clocked 8:19.67 in the fastest heat of the day to put herself in a good lane for the final (2.20am BST).
“I didn’t expect it to be 8:19, that’s the fastest heat swim I’ve done by three seconds,” said Carlin, coached by Dave McNulty and Graeme Antwhistle at the British Swimming National Centre Bath.
“There were a lot of girls gunning to be in that final and everyone will be fighting for the medals. It’s about finding that rhythm, setting that pace and I felt comfortable, especially the first 400m I didn’t feel I was working too hard.
“I’ve got that speed from my 400m, which is something that I normally struggle with so it would be great to use that in the final and also try to make sure I have enough in the bank for the last half of the race.
“Naturally you want to improve and go faster and I did the best time ever in my 400m, so hopefully I can get my 800m down to my best time too. I am just looking forward to it.”
Fellow Rio silver-medallist Siobhan-Marie O’Connor and Chris Walker-Hebborn could also return to the pool on Friday in their respective 4x100m medley relay heats. The finals will conclude the Olympic swimming in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Report courtesy of Team Bath Press Office at Matchtight Ltd.
