Rebecca Adlington has said she would love her daughter to follow in her footsteps and go into sport when she is older. The new mum, who welcomed her daughter on 8 June, has already bought her new arrival a swimming costume in anticipation of taking her swimming.
"I'd love for her to go into the world of sport because I do think sport gives you so much more than medals and everything else," Rebecca told BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. "Both me and my husband come from the world of swimming, we've had such a great life, met the best people and we're so grateful for our careers that we would love her to have that."
The 26-year-old, who retired after the London Olympics in 2012, added that she has no regrets about retiring at such a young age.
© Photo: Getty ImagesRebecca Adlington would like her newborn daughter to go into sport
"I loved my time and I loved my career and loved swimming, but it was definitely time for a new generation to come through," she said.
Rebecca welcomed her first daughter with husband Harry Needs on Monday 8 June, four days past her due date. The couple announced the news and told HELLO!: "Becky and Harry Needs are proud parents of a gorgeous baby girl born this morning and are back home resting".
The couple are yet to reveal their daughter's name or further details of her arrival, but a water birth had always been a key feature of her birth plan.
Rebecca Adlington and her husband Harry Needs welcomed their daughter on 8 June
"A water birth would be top of the list," Rebecca told HELLO! "A few friends have recommended it. I would like the birth to be as natural as possible, but you can't really plan it, can you?"
Rebecca's recent interview is not the first time the gold medallist has spoken about her desire to get her daughter swimming. In a YouTube videoshowing off the baby's completed nursery in May, Rebecca held up a tiny swimming costume and told viewers: "We had to. We can't wait to take her in the pool, so that's exciting."
