Adlington gives her support to Carlin as she bids to reach London 2012

Posted: Monday 21st May 2012 | 14:45

FOUR years ago Jazmin Carlin was cheering Rebecca Adlington on to success - now it is the double Olympic champion who will be doing the supporting as her friend bids to resurrect her London 2012 hopes.

SUPPORT: Jazmin Carlin will have Rebecca Adlington in her camp when she bids to reach the Olympics at the second trials next month

Carlin provided one of the shocks of the British Gas Championships back in March, first failing to book an Olympic place in the 400m freestyle and then neither an individual nor relay spot in the shorter 200m.

The 21-year-old was to eventually pull out altogether before the final of the 800m freestyle, still not fully recovered from a bout of glandular fever, with all but one individual place for this summer's Olympics being taken.

Carlin's London 2012 hopes now rest on the 200m freestyle, an event in which she holds a Commonwealth silver medal, and the second Olympic trials in June, where one individual and two relay places are on offer.

And Adlington, who set herself up with a shot at retaining her 400m and 800m Olympic titles with double gold in March, insists Carlin isn't nicknamed Pit Bull for nothing believing she will make the team.

"Jazz can definitely still make it to the Olympics," said Adlington - who won 4x200m freestyle relay bronze alongside Carlin at the 2009 World Championships in Rome.

"I have no doubt that she has the ability to come back in June and I have no doubt that she will come back fighting - I can't wait to watch that race.

"I am going to be cheering for her and I do want her to do well. I just have no doubt that she can do it, I have so much belief in her and I think everybody does.

"I think that was the thing when she was obviously upset at the Olympic trials back in March that everyone was saying to her, we were all saying ‘we know you can do this'.

"She just needs to believe in herself and I have no doubt that if she does exactly that then she will be on that team for the Olympics with me."

Carlin contracted glandular fever prior to the World Championships last year and when in Shanghai she was far from at her best, failing to reach the final of the 400m and 800m she had so comfortably qualified for.

And Adlington, who won world 800m gold and 400m silver in China 12 months ago, admitted Carlin's situation really hit her when on the national squad camp with the 37 other qualified swimmers last month.

"Jazz was the one person I was kind of shocked to see not make it in March just because I know how much of a tough athlete she is and how strong she is," she added.

"Jazz and Tom Haffield are two people that I really noticed weren't on the British camp we had recently because they have been there for so long. I really noticed their presence not being there.

Rebecca Adlington is a British Gas ambassador. British Gas is getting the nation to show its support for the British Swimming Teams and is giving away free swims. Simply visit www.britishgas.co.uk/freeswimming