SWINDON swimmer Jazz Carlin will be welcoming the warmer climes as she heads to Mexico this weekend to start preparations for the new season.

The 26-year-old enjoyed an ‘incredible’ season in 2016 as she ended the season with two silver medals at the Rio Olympics.

With the World Championships in Budapest on the horizon this year, the Tigersharks swimmer is keen to build on her success but admits that returning to the pool has not been the easiest of tasks.

“At the beginning of last year, I sat down with my coach and we set a goal of two medals at the Olympics, we didn’t know if it was achievable but we wanted to do everything to try,” She said.

“Obviously, when you’re up against such a tough opponent like Katie Ledecky it can be hard, but to come away with two silver medals against such an incredible field of athletes was amazing.

“It still all feels a bit strange that Rio has come and gone but it’s a memory I will never forget.

“It’s been quite hard getting back into normal training as for so long Rio has been in the back of my mind, for it now to be over feels very strange, but I’m looking forward to the future and seeing how far I can push myself.”

Carlin is not back in action until March, when she competes at the US Grand Prix in Indianapolis, but flies to Central America this weekend to take part in one of 10 camps being put on by British Swimming as they begin the four-year cycle for Tokyo 2020.

Carlin will be closing in on her 30th birthday when the Olympics head to Japan but that has not stopped her ruling it out, however, she is concentrating on the more immediate future for now.

“I’m going away to an altitude training camp in Mexico, so I’m looking forward to getting some sunshine and getting a good block of training in,” she added.

“After Rio, I have been slowly getting back to full training, so January will be the start of a big block of training. I want to be competing for the medals and still improving.

“I feel like competing at the World Championships is a stepping stone in the journey to Tokyo and I’m really looking forward to getting back into racing next year.”