Since the Beijing Olympics the name Rebecca Adlington is one that many people will recognise, this has been furthered over recent weeks with successes at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, now we look forward to seeing her on the journey towards the 2012 London Games. Adlington is Britain’s first Olympic swimming champion since 1988, the first British swimmer to win two Olympic gold medals since 1908 and Great Britain’s most successful Olympic swimmer in 100 years.

Adlington was born in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, where she attended The Brunts School. She started swimming with Sherwood Colliery Swimming Club, and was selected for the Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad (Nova Centurion) where she currently trains. She still swims in local swimming leagues for Nottingham Leander Swimming Club, taking part in the National Speedo ‘B’ Final in May 2008.

Adlington represented Great Britain in the 2008 Summer Olympics, competing in the 400 m and 800 m freestyle swimming events. She was also scheduled to swim in the 4×200 m freestyle relay but was rested in the heat and the team failed to qualify for the final. In the heats of the 400 m freestyle, she broke the Commonwealth record with a time of 4:02.24. On 11 August 2008 she won an Olympic gold medal in the same event, with a time of 4:03.22, beating Katie Hoff of the United States in the last 20 m. She was the first woman to win swimming gold for Great Britain since Anita Lonsbrough in 1960.

In 2010 Adlington won the 400m freestyle at the European Swimming Championships in Budapest but again failed to win a medal in her 800m freestyle as she faded to seventh. She won bronze as part of the 4 x 200m freestyle relay team. At the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi she won a “bonus” bronze medal in the 200m freestyle and was part of the English record setting 4 x 200m freestyle relay team that also won bronze. In the 800m freestyle Adlington led from start to finish to win her first Commonwealth Games gold medal. In the 400m freestyle Adlington won comfortably to earn a second gold medal and repeat her Olympic double. She ended the season ranked 2 at 400m freestyle and 1 at 800m freestyle.

Interesting facts

• On 14 December 2008, she was voted third in the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award
• She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours
• Rebecca Adlington was promised a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes by the Mayor of Mansfield if she made it back to Mansfield with an Olympic gold medal. Moreover, the swimming pool where she learned to swim had also promised to rename the baths after her
• Unfortunately, like hundreds of other people, Rebecca Adlington’s parents had been tricked into buying tickets from a fraudulent website and were unable to be in Beijing for their daughter’s first gold medal win. However, they were there to see her win her second gold medal of the games
• Her description of a perfect day: It starts with a lie in, and the sun is definitely shining. But overall, I think it would be not having to look at the clock, not worrying about how much time I have. I’d love not to have to rush around. I’d go for a leisurely walk, have a meal in my garden- a BBQ or picnic! So basically I’d chill out, read a book or catch up with friends
• She says the US is her favourite place in the world

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