TEAM 2012: Jo Jackson craves gold upgrade to her medal haul

EXCLUSIVE - By David Jordan, Sportsbeat

JO JACKSON has confirmed she will double up in 2010 with both the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games on the agenda as she bids to lay down a ‘marker'.

LOOKING AHEAD: Jo Jackson, who won bronze behind Rebecca Adlington at the 2008 Olympics, is looking for more success in 2010, following her three medals at the World Championships (Getty Images)

Much has been made of the Jackson versus Rebecca Adlington rivalry over the past two years, with the latter now a household-name following her double gold in the 400m and 800m freestyle at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Jackson, from Richmond, was not far behind in the Far East as she claimed silver in the 400m freestyle, while she outshone Adlington at last summer's World Championships, scooping 400m and 800m silver as well as 4x200m freestyle relay bronze.

The 23-year-old's hat-trick of medals in Rome was the most that any British swimmer has ever won in a single World Championships and it came in a year where Jackson had already broken the 400m world record.

That record was soon eclipsed by Italian superstar Federica Pellegrini, while Jackson's hopes of ending the year on a high were dashed when a bout of flu and sinusitis ruled her out of the much-publicised British Gas Duel in the Pool.

Ever in the limelight, Adlington went on to finish first and second in front of a sell-out crowd in Manchester in the Ryder Cup-styled swim meet as Europe went head-tohead with the USA in an event designed to give swimming the X-Factor.

But while other swimmers may wonder whether they are destined to always be in Adlington's shadow, Jackson is not even contemplating it as she sets her sights on a goldladen 2010.

"The Commonwealths are big for me and of course I've got the Europeans as well so medalling at those are my twin aims this year," said Jackson.

"You want to go from strength-to-strength and with the London Olympics coming round so soon you want to stick your marker down.

"Last time I went to the Commonwealths I won silver, so the aim is to at least match that but ideally win gold.

"I have had a taste of winning medals and I'm happy to have the pressure of being expected to win a medal.

"It shows I am swimming well and at this stage of my career I'm pleased that I am a serious medal contender and I want to live up to that over the next 12 months and beyond to 2012.

"My aim is to win a gold at a major event this year, that would be a real sign of progression for me from what was a great year last year."