- Rebecca Adlington
Infobox Swimmer
swimmername = Rebecca Adlington
imagesize = 150px
caption =
fullname = Rebecca Adlington
nationality = British
strokes = Freestyle
club = Nova Centurion
collegeteam =
birthdate = birth date and age|1989|02|17|df=yes
birthplace =Mansfield ,Nottinghamshire ,England
deathdate =
deathplace =
height = height|m=1.79
weight =
medaltemplates =Rebecca Adlington (born
17 February 1989 inMansfield ,Nottinghamshire ,England ) is a British freestyle swimmer. She won twogold medal s at the2008 Olympic Games in the 400 m and 800 m, breaking the 19 year-old world record ofJanet Evans in the 800 m final. Adlington is Britain's only Olympic champion in swimming since 1988, the first British swimmer to win two Olympic gold medals since 1908 and is Great Britain's most successful Olympic swimmer in 100 years. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/swimming/7579833.stm |title=Video review - Adlington is GB's golden girl |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-08-24 |accessdate=2008-09-05]Background
She attended
The Brunts School in Mansfield. [cite web |url=http://www.chad.co.uk/adlington/Open-top-bus-parade-to.4398219.jp |title=Open top bus parade to salute double Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington |accessdate=2008-08-18 |publisher=Mansfield Chad |date=2008-08-17 ] Adlington started swimming with Sherwood Colliery Swimming Club, [cite web |url=http://www.sherwoodswimmingclub.com |title=Sherwood Colliery Swimming Club] and was selected for the Nottinghamshire County Swim Squad (Nova Centurion) [cite web |url=http://www.notts-swimming.co.uk |title=Notts. ASA] where she currently trains. She still swims in local swimming leagues for Nottingham Leander Swimming Club, taking part in the National Speedo 'B' Final in May 2008. [cite web |url=http://www.leandersc.com |title=Nottingham Leander Swimming Club] Adlington's grandfather is former Derby Countygoalkeeper Terry Adlington .Fact|date=September 20082008 Summer Olympics
Adlington represented Great Britain in the
2008 Summer Olympics competing in the 400 m and 800 m freestyle swimming events. She was also scheduled to swim in the 4×200 m freestyle relay but was rested in the heat and the team failed to qualify for the final. In the heats of the 400 m freestyle, she broke the Commonwealth record with a time of 4:02:24. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/swimming/7552579.stm |title=Adlington sets sights on GB medal |accessdate=2008-08-11 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-08-10 ] On11 August 2008 she won an Olympic gold medal in the same event, with a time of 4:03.22, beatingKatie Hoff of the United States in the last 20 m. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/swimming/7553179.stm |title=Adlington snatches swimming gold |accessdate=2008-08-11 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-08-11 |accessdate=2008-08-11 ] She was the first woman to win swimming gold for Great Britain sinceAnita Lonsbrough in 1960.cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2538665/Rebecca-Adlington-wins--gold-on-a-rewarding-day-for-Britain---Beijing-Olympics-2008.html|author=Anita Lonsbrough|title=Rebecca Adlington wins gold on a rewarding day for Britain - Beijing Olympics 2008|publisher=The Telegraph |date=2008-08-11|accessdate=2008-08-11] She was the first British swimmer to win more than one gold medal at a single Olympic Games since Henry Taylor won three in 1908. [cite web |title=Olympics: 'Dame' Rebecca arises with second gold |publisher=The Guardian |author=Will Buckley |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/17/olympics2008.rebeccaadlington |date=2008-08-17 |accessdate=2008-08-31]Adlington set a new British, Commonwealth, European and Olympic record of 8:18.06 in the preliminary heats of the women's 800 metre freestyle on
14 August 2008 . She went on to win the 800 m Olympic freestyle final on16 August 2008 in a world record time of 8:14.10, her second gold of the tournament, a full six seconds ahead of the silver medalist, and two seconds ahead of the former world record which had been set byJanet Evans when Adlington was 6 months old. At the time, this was swimming's longest standing world record. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/swimming/7564653.stm |title=Adlington storms to second gold |accessdate=2008-08-16 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-08-16 ]Recognition
The Sherwood Swimming Baths in Adlington's hometown of
Mansfield , where she began swimming as a child, is to be renamed the "Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre" when it is reopened after refurbishment in September 2009. [cite web |url=http://www.mansfield.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2275 |title=Mansfield to honour Olympic hero |publisher=Mansfield District Council |date=2008-08-11 |accessdate=2008-09-05 ] The Yates Bar in Mansfield was renamed the "Adlington Arms" in her honour. [cite web |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/news-and-features/adlington-arms-awaits-golden-girl-908619.htm |title=Adlington Arms awaits golden girl |publisher=The Independent |date=2008-08-26 |accessdate=2008-09-05]Personal bests and records held
References
External links
* [http://www.olympics.org.uk/beijing2008/AthleteProfile.aspx?id=6649# Team GB Olympic Profile]
* [http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vcontent/page/custom/0,8510,5157-182715-199933-42718-269451-custom-item,00.html British Swimming Profile]Persondata
NAME= Adlington, Rebecca
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=
DATE OF BIRTH= 1989-02-17
PLACE OF BIRTH=Mansfield ,Nottinghamshire ,England
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=
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