British swimmer wins Olympic gold

12 April 2012

Britain's Rebecca Adlington won a gold medal in the Olympic 400 metres freestyle final in Beijing.

Adlington beat the USA's Katie Hoff by seven hundredths of a second, pipping her with virtually the last stroke in a thrilling finish. Great Britain team-mate Joanne Jackson took the bronze medal.

The 19-year-old, from Mansfield, and Jackson, from Richmond, are the first British women to win a medal since Sarah Hardcastle in Los Angeles in 1984.

That was in the 800m freestyle, the event in which Adlington is ranked world number one in 2008.

Jackson was third in a time of 4:03.52s as Britain matched their entire medal haul in the pool from Athens in one race.

An ecstatic Adlington told the BBC: "I really didn't know what to expect going up there.

"To get a medal in the Olympics, I'm overwhelmed, I'm so pleased.

"I've got to thank my family, they will be sat at home watching it on TV, thank you so much for watching.

"It's fantastic, we have come so far."

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