Swimming: British Olympic champion Adlington calls time on career
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Double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington at a press conference in central London on Feb 5, 2013, where she announced her retirement from competitive swimming. -- PHOTO: AFP
LONDON (AFP) - Double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington announced on Tuesday her retirement from competitive swimming.
The 23-year-old Briton won two gold medals at the Beijing Games in 2008 but could only muster two bronze medals at London 2012 as the host nation's swimmers managed a disappointing three medals between them in the pool.
She said now was the right time to quit as she could no longer keep pace with a younger generation of swimmers.
"I hate the word retire," Adlington said. "I love swimming but, as a competitive element and elite athlete, I won't compete any more. I'll always be swimming even when I am 90 years old."
