DOUBLE Olympic medallist Jazz Carlin has withdrawn from the British team for next month's World Championships in Budapest, it was announced this morning.

Swindon's Carlin, who now lives in Bradford on Avon, has pulled out of event in Hungary a year after winning silver medals behind America's Katie Ledecky in the women's 400m and 800m freestyle at the Rio Olympics.

In a statement released on social media, Carlin said: "Rio was such a high for me but this year I have struggled with niggles and injury and in hindsight, my body needed a break to recharge.

"I’m grateful my coaching team have supported my decision not to attend the World Championships in order to get myself back on track.

"I go into every race determined to perform at my best and I know I am not quite there at this time.

"I’m still training steadily in Bath and will be looking to build whereby come September, I’ll be raring to go for next season, driving towards Tokyo 2020."

British Swimming head coach Bill Furniss said the 26-year-old University of Bath-based competitor, who won world bronze in the 800m freestyle in Kazan, Russia, two years ago had taken the decision after taking a long-term view of her career.

Carlin's Great Britain teammate Aimee Willmott has also pulled out after suffering a knee injury for which she is receiving ongoing treatment.

Furniss said: “Both swimmers are a loss to the team but we respect their decisions, which we believe will have a positive impact on their long term futures.

“Jazz had a long rest after last year’s Olympics Games, which she needed to do.

"Since then, she has been working hard, despite minor illness and injury, to get herself back into her best competitive shape but feels she isn’t going to be able to get there in time for the World Championships.

"With a long term view of her career, this is the right decision to take.

“I’m disappointed for Jazz and Aimee and it is a loss to the team but we will have lots of athletes fully prepared for the World Championships and we’re looking forward to it.”