Injuries and illness have seen Jo Jackson hit rock bottom since collecting double world silver two years ago - but the GB swimmer insists false dawns are now a thing of the past.
The 24-year-old upstaged GB's golden girl Rebecca Adlington at the 2009 World Championships in Rome, scooping 400m and 800m freestyle silver, having broken the world
record in the former just a few months earlier.
But as the year drew to a close, Jackson began to suffer with asthma which led to breathing problems, a cracked rib and a catastrophic nosedive in form.
In 2010 she collected two relay medals at the European Championships and one at the Commonwealth Games - but whereas the Olympic bronze medallist was turbo-charged the year before, Jackson was barely treading water and failed to make an impact in individual competitions.
At the British Gas Championships in March, Jackson believed her troubles were behind her but she floundered and failed to book her spot at this summer's World Championships in Shanghai.
All is not lost for Jackson however, with the ASA National Championships in June serving as a second chance to seize a trip to the Far East - one she's desperate to grab with both hands.
"I definitely think I am getting back to my best, I am with a new coach now, Ben Titley, I have been with him since the trials and things have improved so much since then," said Jackson, speaking from a British Swimming warm weather training camp, powered by British Gas.
"I think that is a mental thing and a physical thing, it is great to have a new change and a new perspective on things and seeing things in a new light.
"I think I definitely do that now, my training has improved quite dramatically over the past three to four weeks. I have noticed a big improvement in me and how I have been training and that is obviously a really big positive for me.
"The past year or so hasn't been great and the trials in March were a big disappointment for me but I still have to look at the positives.
"For me the second trials are obviously the next big one because hopefully it will get me on the team for the worlds."
Jackson may have won silver in the 400m and 800m in Rome but she won't be doing so in Shanghai with Adlington and Jaz Carlin already bagging the two British spots in both events.
But the 200m door is still ajar for Jackson, and she believes she can force it wide open.
"I will be doing the 200m freestyle and the 100m," she added. "I am not going to not do the 400m I am still going to carry on doing it but obviously this year I have had to take little bit of a step back from it and obviously the place is still open for the 200m so I have been really focusing on that.
"The 100m is the day after the 200m so I thought I would get in there and give that a bash while I am there.
"I think the fact that there is still a place for the 200m for the worlds gave me a bit of confidence after the trials even though I was disappointed.
"It was a little bit disheartening seeing Rebecca Adlington and Jazmin Carlin book both spots for the 400m and 800m at the first trials because I know I am not going to do those events and I did them two years ago.
"But obviously it is great for Britain and it does push you on more when you see your team members do that well. It makes you want to get in there and swim as well as them."
The 24-year-old upstaged GB's golden girl Rebecca Adlington at the 2009 World Championships in Rome, scooping 400m and 800m freestyle silver, having broken the world
record in the former just a few months earlier.
But as the year drew to a close, Jackson began to suffer with asthma which led to breathing problems, a cracked rib and a catastrophic nosedive in form.
In 2010 she collected two relay medals at the European Championships and one at the Commonwealth Games - but whereas the Olympic bronze medallist was turbo-charged the year before, Jackson was barely treading water and failed to make an impact in individual competitions.
At the British Gas Championships in March, Jackson believed her troubles were behind her but she floundered and failed to book her spot at this summer's World Championships in Shanghai.
All is not lost for Jackson however, with the ASA National Championships in June serving as a second chance to seize a trip to the Far East - one she's desperate to grab with both hands.
"I definitely think I am getting back to my best, I am with a new coach now, Ben Titley, I have been with him since the trials and things have improved so much since then," said Jackson, speaking from a British Swimming warm weather training camp, powered by British Gas.
"I think that is a mental thing and a physical thing, it is great to have a new change and a new perspective on things and seeing things in a new light.
"I think I definitely do that now, my training has improved quite dramatically over the past three to four weeks. I have noticed a big improvement in me and how I have been training and that is obviously a really big positive for me.
"The past year or so hasn't been great and the trials in March were a big disappointment for me but I still have to look at the positives.
"For me the second trials are obviously the next big one because hopefully it will get me on the team for the worlds."
Jackson may have won silver in the 400m and 800m in Rome but she won't be doing so in Shanghai with Adlington and Jaz Carlin already bagging the two British spots in both events.
But the 200m door is still ajar for Jackson, and she believes she can force it wide open.
"I will be doing the 200m freestyle and the 100m," she added. "I am not going to not do the 400m I am still going to carry on doing it but obviously this year I have had to take little bit of a step back from it and obviously the place is still open for the 200m so I have been really focusing on that.
"The 100m is the day after the 200m so I thought I would get in there and give that a bash while I am there.
"I think the fact that there is still a place for the 200m for the worlds gave me a bit of confidence after the trials even though I was disappointed.
"It was a little bit disheartening seeing Rebecca Adlington and Jazmin Carlin book both spots for the 400m and 800m at the first trials because I know I am not going to do those events and I did them two years ago.
"But obviously it is great for Britain and it does push you on more when you see your team members do that well. It makes you want to get in there and swim as well as them."
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire