Golden day in Beijing for AASE athlete Adlington

Andrew Brown, SkillsActive - 11/08/2008

The Mansfield 19-year-old, Adlington, left it until the last ten metres to pip Katie Hoff (USA), who had led throughout the race, winning by only seven one-hundredths of a second in 4:03.22. Jo Jackson, swimming in the neighbouring lane to Adlington also finished with a late surge to gain the bronze in 4:03.52, joining Adlington on the podium.

Despite winning the Olympic Games an emotional but composed Adlington said "I was disappointed with the time, it was a bit slow compared to yesterday but I raced which is what I had to do." She was keen to thank her family who are at home in the UK, friends, coaches and everyone else who has helped her achieve the Olympic title.

Adlington and Jackson both swim in the Women's 4x200m freestyle relay team on Wednesday, Adlington saying "It's looking great for the relay, I can't wait to get back in the pool and race."

Adlington also swims the Women's 800m freestyle on Thursday, the event in which she is ranked world number one in 2008. "I can't celebrate yet as I have loads more to race but I am delighted," concluded Adlington whose future looks positive.

Rebecca is one of two swimmers from the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) programme to have been selected for Beijing, along with Jemma Lowe and two synchronised swimmers, Jenna Randall and Olivia Allison.

When the AASE scheme was developed it was thought that athletes aiming for London 2012 would be the main benefactors, but such success has come earlier than anticipated. A gold medal from the Olympic Games is perhaps the best indication yet that AASE can be a successful route towards meeting its objective to help those ‘who have the realistic potential to achieve excellence in their sport and are seeking to perform at the highest level as their main career goal’.

Swimming in her first Olympic Games and making the Olympic final by equalling her British record in the Women's 100m butterfly, eighteen year old Jemma Lowe lapped up the atmosphere in the Water Cube, finishing sixth in 58.06. "It was an OK race, it hurt quite a lot, but I've swam in the Olympic final and I'm quite pleased." Looking forward to the longer event, the 200m butterfly, a relaxed Lowe said "I wasn't too nervous. When you are led out for your swim, you can hear thousands of people screaming and I just tried to take energy from what is a great atmosphere. I enjoy the 100m but probably have a better chance in the 200m, but you never know what the others are doing."

If you missed out on watching the race, you can relive the excitement over on the BBC website while more information on the AASE programme can be found here.