Who is Rebecca Adlington? Team GB Olympic swimmer and Commonwealth Games pundit

REBECCA ADLINGTON was the first British Olympic swimming champion after her double gold glory in 2008.

She retired at the age of just 23 in 2013 and went on to join the BBC’s punditry team at the Tokyo Olympics.

Who is Rebecca Adlington?

Rebecca Adlington OBE is a retired swimmer who represented Great Britain in two Olympic games, four World Championships, two European Championships and one Commonwealth games.

In a short but successful career, she claimed 35 medals across all competitions.

She began her career in swimming aged nine after joining the Sherwood Colliery Swimming Club where she was selected and competed for the Nottinghamshire County Elite Squad.

The talented swimmer has gone on to do numerous TV appearances, including being on I’m a Celebrity and Celebrity MasterChef.

What are Rebecca Adlington’s biggest career achievements?

Aged just 19, Becky was selected for Team GB at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and won gold in the 400m and 800m freestyle event.

She became the first woman to win swimming gold for GB for 48 years, and the first British swimmer to win more than one gold medal at a games for 100 years.

In her Olympic swansong, Becky became a part of GB folklore after winning bronze in the 400m and 800m freestyle at London 2012, before announcing her retirement from the sport aged just 23.

In 2008, she claimed the Sports Journalists’ Association’s Sportswoman of the Year award and the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award.

She was also awarded an OBE in 2009 for her work both in and out of sport.

 

Is Rebecca Adlington married?

Rebecca tied the knot with former swimmer Harry Needs in 2014, and the couple had daughter Summer in 2015.

However, their relationship broke down after 18 months and the pair announced their separation in March 2016.

She revealed the reason her marriage failed was because Harry had to work out if he liked her for who she was or what she had achieved.

Speaking frankly about the split, Rebecca said her ex “idolised” her and questioned his motives for getting down on one knee.

She added: “He wanted to make sure he was with me for the right reasons.”

On December 3, 2018, Rebecca revealed her new love with 28-year-old property manager Andrew Parsons.

The pair married in August 2022 and had their son Albie together.

They were expecting again, sharing the news in September this year, but tragically their daughter Harper was stillborn.

Rebecca, 34, wrote on Instagram: “I don’t really have the words right now but unfortunately we went for our 20 week scan this week and they discovered no heartbeat.

“I gave birth to our angel, Harper on Friday at 7pm. We held her, and had time with her.

“We will forever love and remember her always.”

Becky thanked the staff at Wythenshawe Hospital for caring for her and praised partner Andy for his “selfless support, love and help” and said she “couldn’t have survived without him”.