Rebecca Adlington is Team GB’s most successful swimmer in a long time, in fact the first British woman to win two gold medals in over a centiry. Not only did she win the Beijing 2008 women’s 800 metres freestyle final, she knocked two seconds of the previous world record.

After her winning performance she said “I can’t believe I swam so quickly,” she said immediately after the race. “It’s so nice when you work so hard and it comes off. As soon as I was on my own, I thought, ‘right, I’m going to go for this time’.” She was given an incentive to win the 800m as after her 400m freestyle victory, she was promised some Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin designer shoes if she one her next race. Her love for designer shoes gave her the little extra she needed to such to victory!

Rebecca Adlington started swimming when she was seven years old, following in the footsteps of her sisters Laura and Chloe. She says that she started swimming “just for the social side of things but I just got better and better and that’s fun.”

Rebecca Adlington’s Swimming Training Workouts

Rebecca has dedicated herself to a gruelling training regime. In the run-up to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, she followed a weekly training plan, with 2-3 workouts per day. Sunday is total rest day.

Monday: From 6am to 8am, swimming about 7,000-8,000 metres per two-hour session in the Olympic pool at Nottingham Uni. After the morning swim, she goes home to have breakfast and rest. She would then go running or circuit training for an hour at around 3pm, before returning to the pool around 5pm for another two-hour training session, and then another gym session before bed.

Tuesday: Up at 5am for a high intensity session. In the afternoon it is an aerobic session, involving steady swimming for endurance training. These sessions are repeated on Thursday and Friday evening.

Wednesday: Just one 2 hour session in a 50m pool in the afternoon, followed by an hour of weights in the gym, which is next to the pool. Total training session is about 4 hours.

Thursday and Friday: Another 5am start, with both morning and evening sessions in the pool morning and evening.

“It’s all sleeping, training, driving and occasionally finding time to eat. That’s what my life is about.” Rebecca Adlington, 2008.

Saturday: 7am start for one session in the pool. She says that “by the end of the week I’ve swum 65,000-70,000m. For the rest of the day, I get to indulge my passion for shopping. I am into shoes in a big way. I have dozens of pairs.”

Sunday - Rest Day: Sleep until 10am and then just relax for the day.

The longer you do it, the harder it gets. Every year is harder. To keep improving it has to be like that. I pushed myself harder than ever in my training cycle up to the Olympic Trials. I’ve been crying in training, I’ve been in so much pain. Sometimes I finish training so tired I wonder: ‘What am I doing this for?’ Then you do an amazing swim and you know why.” Rebecca Adlington, 2008.

Rebecca Adlington is a true Olympic hero. When you see what she puts herself through each week, it is not possible to feel such admiration and awe. Her spirit and dedication to her art are what makes her a double gold winner, and one of Britain’s best athletes of 2008. She should certainly be nominated for Britain’s sports personality of the year!

Rebecca Adlington info:

• Date of Birth: 17/02/1989
• Lives: Mansfield
• Born: Mansfield
• Country of Birth: England
• Height: 179cm
• Weight: 71kg
• Club: Nova Centurion
• Coach: Bill Furniss
• Occupation: Swimmer / Olympic Hero / Superstar

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