Rebecca Adlington

Double Olympic Gold Medallist Swimmer, Sports Journalists’ Association Sportswoman of the Year & Member of the BBC Olympic Presenting Team

Rebecca Adlington’s Biography:

Rebecca Adlington is best known as one of Great Britain’s most successful and inspiring swimmers of all time. Catapulted to global recognition after winning double Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games, she became a national icon and a role model for aspiring athletes. Her record-breaking performance in the 800m freestyle — smashing a world record that had stood since 1989 — cemented her legacy as a true sporting great. Since retiring from competitive swimming, Rebecca has carved out a high-profile career as a speaker, television personality and respected commentator, continuing to influence British sport on multiple platforms.

Rebecca’s journey began in Mansfield, where her passion for swimming developed from an early age. Rising quickly through the ranks, she showcased her extraordinary talent on the junior circuit before making her mark internationally. Her dedication, discipline and natural competitive drive paved the way for her senior career, gaining her early recognition and setting the foundation for the successes that would follow.

Rebecca’s achievements are vast and historic. In addition to her Beijing triumphs, she claimed double bronze at the London 2012 Olympics, making her the joint most decorated female Olympian in British history alongside Katherine Grainger. She won multiple world and European titles, including World Championship gold in 2011 and European gold in 2010. At the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, Rebecca returned home with two gold and two bronze medals, further reinforcing her dominance in long-distance freestyle events. Her influence outside the pool has also been recognised, including being named the Sports Journalists’ Association Sportswoman of the Year.

As a speaker and media personality, Rebecca brings warmth, relatability and credibility. She has starred in prime-time television, including I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, appeared on The Jump, and joined ITV’s Loose Women as a guest panellist. Her expertise has made her a staple of the BBC’s swimming coverage, providing commentary for the Rio 2016 Olympics, 2017 World Aquatics Championships, 2018 European Championships, Tokyo 2020 and most recently the Paris 2024 Olympics alongside Clare Balding and Mark Foster. In 2024, she was also announced as a Judge for The Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards. Rebecca continues to inspire audiences worldwide with her story of perseverance, peak performance and reinvention beyond sport.

Why Hire Rebecca Adlington?

Rebecca Adlington is hired as a speaker for her authenticity, humour and ability to connect her record-breaking career to universal lessons in resilience, pressure management and personal growth. She brings compelling insights from elite sport, major media roles and life in the public eye, offering audiences practical takeaways and powerful inspiration drawn from her extraordinary journey.

Rebecca Adlington’s Career Highlights:

Below showcases Rebecca Adlington’s inspirational career highlights throughout the world of television:

• 2025 – Took part in a 10-hour swimming challenge with James Norton along the Kent Coast to raise funds for marine conservation
• 2024 – Commentator for swimming events at the Paris 2024 Olympics
• 2024 – Judge of The Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards
• 2013 – Inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
• 2012 – Bronze Medal, 800m Freestyle, London Olympics
• 2012 – Bronze Medal, 400m Freestyle, London Olympics
• 2011 – Gold Medal, 800m Freestyle, World Championships (Shanghai)
• 2010 – Gold Medal, 800m Freestyle, Commonwealth Games (Delhi)
• 2008 – Gold Medal, 800m Freestyle, Beijing Olympics (World Record)
• 2008 – Gold Medal, 400m Freestyle, Beijing Olympics