Written for South Wales Evening Post
Swansea-based Great Britain swimmer Jazz Carlin has spoken of her intent to divide time between Swansea and Australia after her coach of seven years Bud McAllister revealed to her on Sunday that he would be leaving for the latter next month.
Carlin moved to Swansea at the age of 16 and has worked with the American coach for the seven years since and revealed on her Twitter account that she had been “devastated” when McAllister had told her of his imminent move to Perth.
“A couple of days ago I received some bad news,” she tweeted. “My coach is moving to Australia at the end of February. I was really devastated…”
However, although McAllister departs in February Carlin will continue to work with him in the build up to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July.
For the swimmer, who won a silver and a bronze at her last appearance at the Commonwealth Games in 2010, this will mean a dramatic change to her preparations for this year’s Games as she signalled her intent to divide her preparation time between Swansea and Western Australia over the next six months.
“My priority and focus is still the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this year,” she explained on Twitter. “My time will be spent in Swansea and Australia for the build-up. I’ve been so lucky to have had my coach for the past 7 years and I will be working harder than ever for Glasgow! Thank you for the support!”
Carlin does not appear to have made plans beyond the summer, and it will be another blow for Swansea should she decide to move away after the Commonwealth Games.
Previously Swansea-based Olympians Georgia Davies and Jemma Lowe have already moved their training bases to Loughborough and Bath respectively, while Paralympian Ellie Simmonds has also swapped South Wales and the Wales National Pool for the facilities at Loughborough.
T.D. Nightingale 