Two-time Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington has retired at the age of 23.

The 2010 double Commonwealth Games gold medallist has opted not to defend her titles in Glasgow next year, and will now focus on her campaigning work.

Adlington became Britain’s first female Olympic swimming champion in 48 years with victory in the 400m freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

She then added a second gold by winning the 800m freestyle final in a world record time of 8:14.10.

The Mansfield-born swimmer also won bronze medals in the women’s 400m and 800 m freestyle events at London 2012.

Adlington said in September that she would not compete at the Rio Olympics in 2016 , feeling that as a 27-year-old she would be too old to be competitive.

In December, Adlington criticised British Swimming’s review into the team’s under-performance at the London Games, telling the Times (subscription)Related Articles