Australia's Olympic breaststroke champion Leisel Jones said today she will not swim in next year's world championships in Rome, but has no immediate plans to retire from the sport.

Jones achieved a career goal when she captured individual gold in the 100m breaststroke at the Beijing Olympics in August, in what was her third Olympic campaign.

At the age of 23, she said she plans to take a break from swimming and will not compete in the world championship trials next March.

But Jones said she still wants to continue her swimming career and intends to compete in some smaller international meets in 2009.

Jones said that while she initially thought there was no chance she would still be swimming up to the 2012 London Olympics, her revamped scheduling may prolong her career and put London back on the agenda.

Australia's two-time Olympic 1500m champion and world record holder Grant Hackett announced his international retirement last month.