Jazz Carlin ready to lead Britain's charge at the 15th World Swimming Championships Last month's British trials in Sheffield set the scene. She recorded the world's best 2013 time in the 800m freestyle, broke the British record in the 1500m before winning the 400m with the fourth fastest time in the world this year. She also swam under a second behind the time that had landed Adlington 400m gold in Beijing in 2008. In Barcelona - these will be the first Championships without Michael Phelps for a decade - Carlin's rivals will be France's Camille Muffat in the 400m, while Katie Ledecky, the grounded 16-year-old who won 800m Olympic gold last summer, will be her main threat in the two distance events. "I hadn't really raced the 1500m for six years so to come away with the British record was a real bonus," Carlin said of her emergence in Sheffield. I've always been a racer and being pushed by everyone. I do love those situations when you're in a good race. This is why you do this, to make the big Championships and to bring my best game to the table. It make all the hours worth it. If ever there was a nickname to sum up the determination of a swimmer - a gritty Welsh one at that - missing out on her home Olympics, Carlin's "Pitbull" must rank up there. It is in stark contrast to Janet Evans, McAllister's pupil from yesteryear. In 1987, Evans blitzed to world records in the 400m, 800m and 1500m before being garlanded as "Miss Perpetual Motion" following three Olympic golds in Seoul. After London 2012, the first day back in the pool at Swansea's Intensive Training Centre, saw Carlin venture straight into the distance lane to get herself into the best possible shape. A quarter of a century on from Evans's dominance, you sense that McAllister clearly relishes Carlin's lane decision. "It just kind of happened and Jazz kept on going faster and faster," said McAllister, the highly respected American who has been head coach in Swansea since 2008. I knew from about a month ago she was going to swim those times she did and I have always told her that she is better at the distance events over 200m and 400m, events that she enjoyed. So, can Carlin take up the mantle, perhaps even emulating Evans one day? "Becky and Jo [Jackson] did great things for distance swimming," she said. I may not be the youngest but I know there is more to come. I still have goals I want to achieve. Timetable Jazz Carlin goes for a medal in the 400m women's freestyle. Can she kickstart UK Sport's three-to-five medal target? Ben Proud smashed Mark Foster's British record in the 50m butterfly at trials. This 18-year-old could surprise with a medal. No Liam Tancock, so Chris Walker-Hebborn steps up in the 100m backstroke. 200m men's butterfly. South African Chad Le Clos begins his campaign in the event in which he beat hero Michael Phelps last summer. American Missy Franklin will attempt a Phelps-like eight events, including the 50m butterfly. Ryan Lochte goes in the 200 individual medley. Fran Halsall starts a shortened campaign with two 50m events, starting with the butterfly. Michael Jamieson aims to underline world No 1 status with 200m breaststroke gold. US-based Adam Brown broke Foster's 50m freestyle British record last month and is out to prove that losing funding can be a spur. Hannah Miley will attempt to overturn fourth at London 2012 into a medal in the 400m individual medley. TV BBC2 and British Eurosport.