London 2012 heroine Rebecca Adlington, 23, is set to make an announcement, and many suspect the swimmer – who won bronze at the Olympic Games – is planning to retire from the sport which has elevated her to dizzying heights of success. She will clarify the reason for the announcement at a press conference next Tuesday, February 5.
Rebecca set herself high standards after snaring two gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She hoped to repeat that success on home soil last year, and the Mansfield-born blonde did manage to secure bronze in the 400m freestyle. However, the swimmer was visibly upset as she claimed third place on the podium, and her post-performance interviews hinted at a re-evaluation of her standing in competitive swimming. Speaking after London 2012 she said: "I wanted to achieve a little bit more at these Games and have not done that but, at the same time, have I got more to give? That's the question".
She also made reference to the fact that distance swimming was populated by teenage athletes. Although herself only 23, Rebecca's success and experience mean she is considered a veteran in the sport. "People say I'm so young, but for distance swimming I'm not young," she said. It's though that Rebecca now wants to focus her energies on social projects and mentor the next generation of swimmers who want to make a splash in her sport.