"I’m not in the stands going, 'I wish I was there'"
Rebecca Adlington won two golds at Beijing 2008 and two bronzes at London 2012, and will now be part of the BBC commentary team for swimming events
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- Sherna Noah
Is it difficult watching and commentating on swimming rather than competing?
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I had my time in the sport and I loved it. I’m not in the stands going, “I wish I was there.” But I do feel nervous for the competitors because I know what they’re going through.
What can we expect from Paris 2024?
We’d all fall off our chairs if GB’s Adam Peaty doesn’t get a medal, but there is always someone unexpected, too. That, for me, is what makes it.
How do you prepare for your pundit role?
My old coach, Bill Furniss, is the GB head coach at British Swimming. I’ll speak to him and other coaches for stories about the human side of the athletes. And I always try to make sure I’ve got all my outfits ready a couple of weeks beforehand. I know it sounds pathetic, but I want to feel good.
You retired in 2013 at the age of 23. Do you still swim every day?
I wish! I go once a week on a Sunday morning and do 2km. I don’t go fast, I use it as an opportunity to put my phone away and chill out. It’s nice because I loved the sport, not necessarily the racing.
Have you taught your children to swim?
My eight-year-old is fully swimming. My three-year-old has armbands on, but he won’t listen to me. I try. I’ll say, “I told you exactly the same thing as your swimming teacher!”
You’re passionate that kids must learn to swim...
Yes. In a pool it’s warm, you’re in swimming gear, you’ve got your goggles on and you can stand up or get to a wall. It’s different if you’ve fallen into a river or a lake, or you’re fully clothed. It’s vital the access is there. Too many pools have closed in the UK since Covid.
Should the government step in?
Council buildings that cost £25 million to set up are not the future of swimming. No council can afford that. We’ve got to be more creative with venues across the country, whether it’s in hotel pools, in gym pools, in school pools.
What wider impact does lack of access to pools have?
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It’s going to have a knock-on effect with the Olympics. We’re really strong now and I think we’ll pick up lots of medals in Paris, but we’re going to see fewer in the future, maybe after the LA Games in 2028, because pools have shut.
Authors
Sherna Noah
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