INJURIES and illness have seen Jo Jackson hit rock bottom since collecting double world silver two years ago - but the Olympic bronze medalist insists false dawns are now a thing of the past.

The 24-year-old upstaged Britain'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 she was turbo-charged the year before, Jackson was barely treading water and failed to make an impact in individual competitions.

At March's British Gas Championships, 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 however, with next month's British Gas 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 - who despite her world efforts in 2009 can only qualify individually for the 200m with Adlington and Jazmin Carlin securing the two available British spots in the 400m and 800m.

"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.

"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.

"I think the fact that there is still a place in 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 and Jazz book both spots for the 400m and 800m because I know I am not going to do those events and I did them two years ago.

"But for me the second trials are obviously the next big one because hopefully it will get me on the team for the worlds."

While Jackson struggles, fellow North-East swimmer Jemma Lowe continues to go from strength to strength and she comfortably booked a World Championship swim back in March.

Lowe, of Hartlepool, was previously based in Florida but is now back on British soil, and guaranteed a place in the 200m butterfly in Shanghai but not the 100m, which she won Commonwealth bronze in last year.

The 20-year-old can still book a swim in the 100m and having sampled the atmosphere on the podium last year, Lowe is determined to make sure she gets to do so again.

"Obviously I am happy to have qualified for the worlds in the 200m, I was happy with my time because I have been a bit off my best ones over the past couple of years," said Lowe.

"I came back from Florida after the Commonwealth Games, which was a really hard decision and settling down was quite difficult but I am really happy that I am back in the UK.

"My coach really believes in me and believes that I can make the final at the worlds in Shanghai and maybe medal and I would really like to get a medal at the worlds - everyone that goes does."

The nation's leading energy supplier British Gas is the principal partner of British Swimming, and is supporting the sport at all levels, from grass roots to our elite athletes. Visit www.britishgas.co.uk/swimming