Commonwealth Games 2014: Jazz Carlin takes freestyle gold for Wales

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/28/commonwealth-games-jazz-carlin-freestyle-sophie-taylor

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It was a performance full of soul and all that Jazz, an 800m freestyle victory that made history for Wales and ensured the red dragon flew highest at Tollcross. Land of my Fathers played out for a female athlete at a Commonwealth pool for the first time in 40 years, thanks to Jazz Carlin’s imperious performance – on a night when the Welsh truly joined the party at these Games.

Carlin, who missed London 2012 with glandular fever, was once regarded as Rebecca Adlington’s heir apparent. This performance to secure her country’s third gold in Glasgow was the fulfilment of all that potential, a display that blew her opponents out of the water and set a Commonwealth record of 8:18.11.

That time would have been enough to win silver at the Olympics two years ago, yet this was not an evening for looking back. Carlin had narrowly missed out on a medal at the World Championships earlier this year but the 23-year-old from Swansea demonstrated a remarkable surge with 150m remaining, moving away from New Zealand’s Lauren Boyle to win by a comfortable margin of 2.48sec.

Carlin had painted the Welsh dragon on her fingernails before this race and, as her national anthem played out in front of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, the emotion poured out.

“Coming away with a gold medal makes you really appreciate what you’ve been through. I’ve overcome some real lows and hard times. It really does make it really special and so emotional, that’s why I was crying so much,” said Carlin.

“It was a really tough race. There were a lot of really quick women in that pool and I had to make sure I tactically did it well. I had to make sure I timed it right but I always knew I had a strong back end, so it was making sure I used my strengths.

“I would have liked to have gone a bit quicker but, obviously, it’s all about the race. It’s amazing, it’s not sunk in yet. Hearing the Welsh anthem was incredible. I was trying to sing it but I was way too emotional and it wouldn’t come out. It’s been an amazing day.”

Carlin’s has been a journey of hardship, swimming against the tide of funding cuts in the aftermath of London 2012. British Swimming’s disappointing performance at the Olympics resulted in a £4m budget decrease and the closure of an intensive training centre at Swansea.

Carlin had her own podium potential funding removed in 2013 but she has returned to the elite programme for the current year. However, her coach, Bud McAllister, has moved on to a new position in Australia and Carlin has had to adapt her training accordingly. Adlington said last night: “After two years of disappointments Jazz really deserved that. She has put in so much hard work.”

Carlin added: “It was a really difficult time for me, with Bud moving to Australia. I’ve really had to get my head down and stay determined, I’ve been away from him for two months. I had a great block of training in Australia. It has been tough. I’ve just had to get on with it, with Glasgow in the back of my mind, it’s always been a big target.

“I’ve just kept my head down and worked as hard as I have ever done. I came here and I did want the gold medal. I’ve put everything in my training. I’ve not left anything in the pool.”

Later in the evening England’s Sophie Taylor won an impressive gold in the 100m breaststroke, while Adam Peaty pushed South Africa’s Cameron van der Burgh all the way in the 50m breaststroke.

“I look forward to competing with Adam more often,” said Van der Burgh of his teenage opponent. “He’s giving the old man a chase for his money. I remember the days when I was young and he’s fired me up. I’ve been complacent in the last two years.”

There was an Australian one-two-three in the women’s 100m freestyle, with the Campbell sisters securing the first two places. Cate won in 52.68sec, ahead of Bronte with Emma McKeon third and Fran Halsall finishing fourth. England’s Adam Barrett took bronze in the 100m butterfly, won by Chad le Clos ahead of Joseph Schooling.