Hello I'm Kirsty Young. Thank you for downloading this podcast of Desert Island Disks from BBC Radio 4.

For rights reasons, the music choices are shorter than in the radio broadcast.

For more information about the program, please visit BBC.co.uk.

Radio 4. My My cast away this week is Rebecca Adlington, Britain's most successful female swimmer.

A multiple medal winner and record breaker, she's packed a lot in at a young age.

First, grabbing the nation's attention by winning two golds at the Beijing Olympics

and breaking a world record into the bargain.

When she got back home, she was granted the freedom of Mansfield and the

mayor gave her a pair of golden shoes. The Queen opted for the more conventional approach bestowing

an OBE. She went on to win two more medals at the London 2012 Olympics

and when all the cheering and flag waving had died down and the games were over she

announced her retirement. She's hardly been a slouch since appearing regularly on TV

getting married and in recent months getting ready for the birth of her first child.

She's only 26. One of three sisters, family life was dominated by early morning

training sessions at the local pool and it wasn't long before little Becky was out of the shallow end and heading for the fast lane.

The Sherwood Baths is now renamed the Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre.

She says,

There is swimmer Becky and there is me.

In the pool don't get in my way I have a job to do I am not here to entertain you

I am here to do what I need to get done so welcome Rebecca Addington you are two years now into your retirement and I'm guessing that

Team G.B are currently they must be in training already for the Rio Olympics. Are you jealous or

delighted? You're not part of it.

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