Rebecca Adlington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rebecca Adlington
OBE

Adlington in the Our Greatest Team Parade
Personal information
Born	(1989-02-17) 17 February 1989 (age 36) Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (179 cm)
Weight	11 st 0 lb; 154 lb (70 kg)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle
Club	Nova Centurion
Coach	Bill Furniss
Medal record Women's swimming Representing  Great Britain Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 2 0 2 World Championships (LC) 1 1 2 World Championships (SC) 1 1 0 European Championships (LC) 1 1 1 Commonwealth Games 2 0 2 Total 7 3 7 Olympic Games Gold 2008 Beijing 400 m freestyle Gold 2008 Beijing 800 m freestyle Bronze 2012 London 400 m freestyle Bronze 2012 London 800 m freestyle World Championships (LC) Gold 2011 Shanghai 800 m freestyle Silver 2011 Shanghai 400 m freestyle Bronze 2009 Rome 400 m freestyle Bronze 2009 Rome 4×200 m freestyle World Championships (SC) Gold 2008 Manchester 800 m freestyle Silver 2008 Manchester 4×200 m freestyle European Championships (LC) Gold 2010 Budapest 400 m freestyle Silver 2006 Budapest 800 m freestyle Bronze 2010 Budapest 4×200 m freestyle Representing  England Commonwealth Games Gold 2010 Delhi 400 m freestyle Gold 2010 Delhi 800 m freestyle Bronze 2010 Delhi 200 m freestyle Bronze 2010 Delhi 4×200 m freestyle

Rebecca Adlington (born 17 February 1989) is a famous English swimmer. She was a champion in freestyle swimming events. Rebecca won two gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She set a new world record in the 800-metre freestyle race. This made her Britain's first Olympic swimming champion since 1988. She was also the first British swimmer to win two Olympic gold medals since 1908.

In 2011, she won her first World Championship gold medal. She also earned silver and bronze medals at other big swimming events. At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, she won two bronze medals. Rebecca Adlington is one of the few swimmers to win gold medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships, and Commonwealth Games. She stopped competing in swimming in 2013 when she was 23. After retiring, she became a swimming expert for BBC TV. She also helps run a group that teaches swimming.

Rebecca Adlington's Early Life and Training

Rebecca Adlington was born on 17 February 1989. She grew up in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England. Rebecca went to The Brunts School there. She started swimming with the Sherwood Colliery Swimming Club. Later, she joined the Nottinghamshire County Elite Squad. This club is called Nova Centurion Swimming Club. She also swam for Nottingham Leander Swimming Club. Rebecca's great-uncle, Terry Adlington, was a famous football goalkeeper. She is a big fan of Derby County.

Rebecca Adlington's Amazing Swimming Career

Rebecca Adlington swam for Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She competed in the 400-metre and 800-metre freestyle races. In the 400-metre freestyle heats, she broke the Commonwealth record. On 11 August 2008, she won an Olympic gold medal in this event. She passed Katie Hoff from the United States in the final meters. She was the first British woman to win swimming gold since 1960.

Rebecca won a second gold medal in the 800-metre freestyle. This made her the first British swimmer since 1908 to win two golds at one Olympics. In 2009, she felt a lot of pressure at the World Aquatics Championships in Rome. She swam her best time but only won bronze in the 400-metre freestyle. She also won a second bronze medal in the 4×200-metre freestyle relay.

In 2010, Rebecca won the 400-metre freestyle at the European Swimming Championships. She also earned a bronze medal with her relay team. At the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, she won a bronze in the 200-metre freestyle. She also helped her team set an English record in the 4×200-metre freestyle relay, winning another bronze. Rebecca won her first Commonwealth Games gold medal in the 800-metre freestyle. She then won a second gold in the 400-metre freestyle. She finished that year ranked number one in the 800-metre freestyle.

At the 2011 World Aquatics Championships, Rebecca won gold in the 800-metre freestyle. She also took silver in the 400-metre freestyle. At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, she won two bronze medals. She earned them in the 400-metre and 800-metre freestyle events. After these Games, Rebecca decided she would not compete in the 800-metre race again. She also said she would not go to the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Records Rebecca Adlington Set

Rebecca Adlington set many records during her career.

• On 14 August 2008, she set new British, Commonwealth, European, and Olympic records. This was in the 800-metre freestyle heats.
• On 16 August 2008, she won the Olympic 800-metre freestyle final. She set a world record time of 8:14.10.
• This record was six seconds faster than the silver medallist. It was also two seconds faster than the old world record. That record had been held by Janet Evans for 19 years. At the time, it was the longest-standing world record in swimming.

Rebecca Adlington's Best Times

Long course (50 m pool)

Short course (25 m pool)

How Rebecca Adlington Was Honored

Adlington on an open-top bus outside of Mansfield Town Hall after parading around Mansfield town centre streets in 2008

Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre in November 2017

After the 2008 Olympics, thousands of people in Mansfield welcomed Rebecca home. She rode in an open-top bus and was cheered by crowds. She was given a special pair of gold-colored shoes by the mayor of Mansfield. In November 2008, sports journalists named her Sportswoman of the Year. She received her award from Princess Anne. In December 2008, she was voted third in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

In 2009, Rebecca was given the title Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This is a special honor from The Queen. In December 2009, she received an honorary degree from the University of Nottingham. This was to recognize her great achievements in British sport.

The swimming baths where Rebecca learned to swim in Mansfield were renamed. In January 2010, they became the Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre. A local bar in Mansfield was also renamed the Adlington Arms in her honor. In 2013, she was the first person added to Nottinghamshire County Council's Roll of Honour. A high-speed train used for the 2012 London Olympics was named after her. In 2016, a tram in Nottingham was also named after Rebecca Adlington.

Rebecca Adlington on Television

Rebecca Adlington has appeared on many TV shows.

• She was a guest on the chat show Loose Women several times in 2014.
• In 2016, she was a contestant on The Jump. She had to leave the show after hurting her shoulder.
• At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Rebecca was part of the BBC team. She helped present the swimming events. She has continued this role for other big swimming competitions.

I'm a Celebrity...

Rebecca Adlington was on the TV show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2013. This show takes place in Australia. She finished in 6th place.

Guest Appearances

Rebecca has been a guest on many other TV shows:

• The Charlotte Church Show (2008)
• All Star Family Fortunes (2010)
• A League of Their Own (2012)
• I Love My Country (2013)
• Celebrity Come Dine with Me (2013)
• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (2013)
• The Chase: Celebrity Special (2013)
• A Question of Sport: Super Saturday (2014)
• 8 Out of 10 Cats (2014)
• Desert Island Discs (2015)
• Celebrity MasterChef (2017)

Rebecca Adlington's Personal Life

In 2005, Rebecca's sister became very ill with a brain condition. Her sister got better, and this experience made Rebecca more determined. She became an Ambassador for the Encephalitis Society in 2009. This helps raise awareness about the illness.

In 2014, Rebecca married Harry Needs, who was also a swimmer. They had a daughter in 2015. In 2016, Rebecca and Harry announced they were separating. On 4 March 2021, Rebecca and her boyfriend, Andy Parsons, had a son. They got married on 5 September 2021. In August 2022 and October 2023, Rebecca shared that she had experienced miscarriages.

Images for kids

• 

  Adlington on an open-top bus outside of Mansfield Town Hall after parading around Mansfield town centre streets in 2008

• 

  Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre in November 2017

See also

In Spanish: Rebecca Adlington para niños

• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (women)
• List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (women)
• List of Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming (women)
• World record progression 800 metres freestyle