SWIMMING: JAZZ Carlin is being asked to show her mental toughness after being selected in a squad of youngsters earmarked as potential 2012 Olympians.

The 15-year-old Swindon Tigershark, pictured, came of age with an impressive series of swims for Wales in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in March, and is now looking forward to the next stage in her development.

Carlin, of Wootton Bassett School, will travel with a British squad for next month's Mare Nostrum tour, competing in Canet, France, on June 7 and Barcelona, Spain, on June 10.

The squad is made up of those senior athletes refining preparations for this summer's European Championships and youngsters with Olympic potential.

The open-air series is a draw to the world's greatest swimmers, but for the British contingent the focus is on developing mental toughness as they will compete, unlike their opposition, without the benefit of rest beforehand.

Carlin said: "I am really looking forward to it. I spoke to Jamie King about it the other day and she said the Mare Nostrum tour was a really good event.

"It is flattering to be picked and it should do me good in preparation for the European Junior Championships in Majorca in July.

"It is great I am getting the chance to travel and my friends are all really jealous of me at the moment."

While many of the senior athletes look forward to the Europeans in Budapest, the younger element will use the meet to gain valuable experience against some of the sport's top names.

British Swimming National Performance Director Bill Sweetenham, said: "Britain's swimmers will face tough, hard racing in an unprepared state. We're creating adversity and what the athletes lack in physical preparation they will have to make up for in mental toughness.

"The younger group will struggle with the standard of competition at the Mare Nostrum but they need to gain this experience just six years away from London 2012.

"British swimming has targeted athletes aged 14 to 18 who have the necessary talent to succeed at the London Olympics, and the Mare Nostrum is just one element in a whole programme of initiatives to make sure they have the best preparation for 2012."