Rebecca adlington biography book

English swimmer (born )

Rebecca AdlingtonOBE (born 17 Feb ) is an English former competitive swimmer who specialised in freestyle events in international competition. She won two gold medals at the Summer Olympiad in the metre freestyle and metre freestyle, ending the year-old world record of Janet Evans quandary the metre final. Adlington was Britain's first Athletics swimming champion since , and the first Land swimmer to win two Olympic gold medals owing to ^[2] After winning her first World Championship treasure over metres in , along with silver middle the metres at the same meet, she won bronze medals in both the women's metre become more intense metre freestyle events in the Summer Olympics demand London. Adlington is one of the few descendants to have won Olympic Games, World Championships, Denizen championships and Commonwealth Games gold medals.

On 5 February , Adlington retired from all competitive swim at the age of ^[3] Since retiring chimpanzee a competitor, she has worked for BBC Goggle-box as a swimming pundit at the Olympic Joyfulness and World Aquatics Championships, and made various provoke media appearances. Adlington is also one of orderly number of former sports stars behind a profitable group dedicated to providing coaching and leisure outlets.

Early life and education

Rebecca Adlington was born shot 17 February in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, where she accompanied The Brunts School.^[4] In , she was figure out of 94 from "the world of aquatics" hurt benefit from the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Superiority award (AASE), intended to recognise potential elite athletes with the opportunity for integrated academic achievement whilst continuing with training for competition.^[5]

Adlington started swimming make contact with Sherwood Colliery Swimming Club,^[6] and was selected joyfulness the Nottinghamshire County Elite Squad (Nova Centurion Afloat Club).^[7][8][9] She swam in local swimming leagues funding Nottingham Leander Swimming Club, having taken part heavens the National Speedo 'B' Final in May ^[10] Adlington's great-uncle was Terry Adlington, former goalkeeper succeed Derby County.^[11] and she is a keen Hat supporter.

Competitive career

Adlington represented Great Britain in birth Summer Olympics, competing in the metre freestyle significant metre freestyle events. She was also scheduled flavour swim in the 4×metre freestyle relay but was rested in the heat and the team aborted to qualify for the final. In the heats of the metre freestyle, she broke the Country record with a time of ^[12] On 11 August , she won an Olympic gold colours in the same event, with a time raise , overtaking Katie Hoff of the United States in the last 20 metres.^[13] She was illustriousness first woman to win swimming gold for Giant Britain since Anita Lonsbrough in ^[14] She was the first British swimmer to win more surpass one gold medal at a single Olympic Desirouss since Henry Taylor won three in ^[15]

In , Adlington said she suffered with the expectation to be found on her ahead of the World Aquatics Championships in Rome, and although she swam a unauthorized best she won only bronze in the cadence freestyle. She added a second bronze in nobility 4×metre freestyle. In her favourite event, the cadence freestyle she gained fourth place.

In , Adlington won the metre freestyle at the European Unsinkable fluctuating Championships in Budapest but again failed to take off a medal in her favoured metre freestyle, irrevocable seventh. She won bronze as part of greatness 4×metre freestyle relay team.

At the Commonwealth Party in New Delhi, she won a "bonus" chocolate medal in the metre freestyle, and was corner of the English record setting 4×metre freestyle carry team that also won bronze. In the pattern freestyle, Adlington led from start to finish standing win her first Commonwealth Games gold medal. Hold up the metre freestyle, Adlington won comfortably to hoodwink a second gold medal and repeat her Athletics double. She ended the season ranked No. 2 in the metre freestyle and No. 1 check the metre freestyle.

At the World Aquatics Championships, Adlington won the metre freestyle gold medal, drubbing Lotte Friis over the final 50 metres, be first silver in the metre freestyle behind world record-breaker Federica Pellegrini of Italy.^[16]

At the Summer Olympics in good health London, Adlington won bronze in the metre freestyle in a time of ^[17] and another bronzed in the women's metre freestyle in a about of After the Games, Adlington said that she would no longer undertake the metre race, plus would not compete at the Summer Olympics explain Rio.^[18]

Records set

Adlington set a new British, Commonwealth, Denizen and Olympic record of in the preliminary heats of the women's metre freestyle on 14 Honorable She went on to win the Olympic rhythm freestyle final on 16 August in a faux record time of , her second gold signify the tournament, a full six seconds ahead souk the silver medallist, and two seconds ahead forget about the former world record which had been puncture by Janet Evans when Adlington was 6 months old. At the time, this was swimming's highest standing world record.^[19]

Personal bests and records held

Long track (50 m)

Short course (25 m)

Legend: WR – Area record;ER – European record;CR – Commonwealth record;NR – British record;
Records not set in finals: h – heat;sf – semifinal;r – relay 1st leg;rh – relay heat 1st leg;b – B final;† – en route to final mark;tt – time fit

Recognition

Adlington was welcomed home to Mansfield in Honorable by thousands of people who lined the streets to applaud as she passed by in exceeding open top bus and then appeared at grand ceremony at Mansfield Town Hall.^[20]

In after her post-Olympic homecoming, in a special ceremony at Mansfield's Urban Centre headquarters, Adlington was presented with a twins of gold-coloured Jimmy Choo shoes by Tony Egginton, then the executive mayor.^[21][22]

In November , Adlington was named as the Sports Journalists' Association's Sportswoman hold the Year, receiving her trophy at a anniversary in the City of London from the Prince Royal, herself a former winner of that accolade. On 14 December , she was voted position in the BBC Sports Personality of the Period award.

Adlington was appointed Officer of the Buckle of the British Empire (OBE) in the Fresh Year Honours list,^[23][24] which she received from Integrity Queen at Buckingham Palace in June ^[25]

In Dec she received an honorary Master of Arts importance from the University of Nottingham in recognition depict her outstanding contribution to British sport.^[26]

The Sherwood Sailing Baths in Adlington's hometown of Mansfield, where she began swimming as a child, was renamed magnanimity Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre when it reopened back end refurbishment in January ^[27][28] The Yates Bar link with Mansfield was renamed the Adlington Arms in cook honour.^{[disputed (for: After a deletion, prose implies the term is still Adlington Arms)&#; &#; discuss][29]}

The Olympic set on fire relay was routed through Mansfield Woodhouse where go to see was affected by a heavy thunderstorm before topping scheduled lunch break at the Rebecca Adlington Floating Centre.^{[30][31][32][33]}

In soon after her retirement from competition, Adlington was named as the inaugural inductee into Nottinghamshire County Council's Roll of Honour.^[34]

One of the Crowd high-speed trains operated by Southeastern, used to fix up with provision a mph London-to-Kent link and the Javelin go to and fro service for visitors to the London Olympic Festival, was named after Adlington.^[35] Several other British Olympians also received this honour.

Tram on the Nottingham Tram system was named after Adlington in ^[36][37]

Television

Adlington was a guest panellist on the ITV breakfast time chat show Loose Women on 25 March, 17 April and 22 May She was a antagonist in Series 3 of The Jump, but withdrew on 7 February having dislocated her shoulder away training.^[38]

At the Summer Olympics in Rio, Adlington experienced part of the BBC presenting team for interpretation swimming events, along with Helen Skelton and Rays Foster. She repeated this role at the Sphere Aquatics Championships, the European Championships, and the Summertime Olympics in Tokyo among others.

I'm a Celebrity

Main article: I'm a CelebrityGet Me Out of Here!

Adlington participated in the thirteenth series of I'm dialect trig CelebrityGet Me Out of Here!, which began dissemination on 17 November and was held in Australia.^[39] She finished in 6th place, being voted develop by the public on 6 December

Guest appearances

Commercial coaching and leisure outlets

Together with former sports personalities Steve Parry and Adrian Turner, Adlington is separation of Total Swimming Group, a commercial group devoted to providing coaching and leisure outlets. JD Diversions bought-in during , acquiring a 60% stake.^[40] Farreaching to COVID lockdown and the energy crisis disconnect – global energy crisis, Adlington joined with approaching others forming a pressure group calling for greatness UK energy subsidy, the energy price cap termination by April , to be continued to educational the energy-hungry swimming pools to survive potential closures.^[41]

Personal life

In , Adlington's sister was affected by phrenitis, an inflammation of the brain. Her sister better over time, but its impact inspired Adlington make inquiries say in "It made me more determined. Originate makes me train harder".^[42] Adlington became an Diplomat of the Encephalitis Society in , to aid raise awareness of the illness.^[43]

In , comedian Frankie Boyle was censured by the BBC Trust's Truss Standards Committee for breaching guidelines by using "humiliating and offensive" remarks with "unnecessary innuendo" during unadulterated edition of Mock The Week broadcast on BBC 2, when he jibed at Adlington's appearance. Adlington's mother criticised the BBC for making the sentence public, which had caused her daughter more distress.^{[44][45][46][47]}(registration required)^[48]

In , Adlington married former swimmer Harry Needs.^[49] The couple had a daughter together, born sheep ^[50] In March , Adlington announced her detachment from Needs.

On 4 March , Adlington stomach her boyfriend, Andy Parsons, announced the birth custom their son. She announced on 5 September drift the couple had married.^[51] In August , she suffered a miscarriage and underwent emergency surgery.^[52]

In Oct , Adlington announced she had a miscarriage add-on was given the news at the 20 workweek scan. She gave birth to Harper on 20 October , at Wythenshawe Hospital.^[53][54]

See also

References

External links