Rebecca Adlington is a swimmer who has competed for Great Britain. She competed at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympic Games.She won a total of four medals (two golds in 2008 and two bronze in 2012) in the long-distance freestyle double (400 and 800).
Adlington started her Olympic career, as a 19-year-old, in Beijing 2008. There, she came from fifth at the final turn to pip Katie Hoff for the gold outside the record time of 4:03.22 in the 400 metres freestyle. With this feat, Adlington became the first British swimmer to win an Olympic title since Adrian Moorhouse topped the podium in 1988 and the first woman since Anita Lonsborough in 1960. Her victory streak continued when she added another gold in the 800 metres freestyle with a new world record (8:14.10), slashing 2.12 seconds off the 19-year-old mark from Janet Evans.
Four years later in London, Adlington was expected to defend her long-distance freestyle titles before the home crowd. She lost both of her races to Camille Muffat in the 400 metres freestyle and Katie Ledecky in the 800, leaving her each with a bronze.
On 5 February 2013, Adlington retired from competitive swimming.
Olympic Results[]
| Year | Event | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Women's 400m freestyle | 
|
| Women's 800m freestyle |
| |
| 2012 | Women's 400m freestyle | 
|
| Women's 800m freestyle |
|
2008[]
| Discipline | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 metres freestyle | Heats | 4:02.24 | NR |
| Final | 4:03.22 | ||
| 800 metres freestyle | Heats | 8:18.06 | OR |
| Final | 8:14.10 | WR |
2012[]
| Discipline | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 400 metres freestyle | Heats | 4:05.75 |
| Final | 4:03.01 | |
| 800 metres freestyle | Heats | 8:21.78 |
| Final | 8:20.32 |