Double world bronze medallist Jazmin Carlin admits everything is in place for her tilt at Olympic Games success on debut at Rio 2016 – in, out and around the pool.
Carlin arrives in Brazil as one of 12 British swimmers to have medalled at the World Championships in Kazan last summer, the team’s haul of nine their best ever at the event.
The 28-year-old won’t have to wait long for a shot at the podium with the women’s 400m freestyle heats and finals scheduled for day two of competition at the Olympic Aquatic Stadium.
And Carlin points to the world-class facilities at Team GB’s preparation camp in Belo Horizonte as well as the togetherness of the Olympic village for making her primed and ready to go.
“The facilities at the prep camp were incredible. We were very lucky to have an indoor pool,” said Carlin, who won bronze in the 800m freestyle in Kazan.
“I think it is the only indoor 50m pool in Brazil, we were very luck to have that and we were only an hour flight from Rio.
“It was great, we had an amazing set up there and great facilities with the pool being indoors. We could also train at the same times we will be competing at in Rio.
“The finals are at around 10pm and we had a great set up with the rest of the GB athletes.
The women’s and men’s rugby 7s teams and athletics team joined us, so we got to know a few familiar faces.”
As well as the 400m freestyle, Carlin – who won her first world medal with bronze as part of the British 4x200m freestyle relay quartet in 2009 – has the longer 800m event to focus on later in the swimming competition.
And, while aware of the enormity of the Olympic Games, set to be here first, Carlin likes to keep things simple as she bids to become the latest British female to success in the long distance events in Rio.
“You are still racing the best in the world, like at a World Championships, it is just on a bigger scale,” she added.
“It is so exciting when you are walking around the village and seeing everyone from all the different sports.
“You are part of one Team GB, the same team together, you’re not just by yourself. You have a whole group of athletes around you supporting you.”