New Delhi, Oct 2 (IANS) Ace English swimmer Rebecca Adlington, a world record holder in the 800-metre freestyle event, will be hoping to make a golden debut in the Commonwealth Games here.
‘My favourite event has always been the 800m freestyle as I am more comfortable and confident in that event,’ Adlington said in the Commonwealth Games Village Saturday.
‘I don’t have the natural speed for 200m.’
‘I would like to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games. It will be the first time I have competed in CWG. After that my next goal will be the London Olympics in 2012,’ said Adlington.
The 21-year-old Nottinghamshire girl is one of the best swimmers in the England squad. She made her international debut at the European Championships in Budapest in 2006, winning a silver medal. She will participate in the 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle and 800m freestyle here.
Adlington set an 800m freestyle world record at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with a time of 8:14.10.
She won two golds in Beijing, in the 400 and 800 metres to become Britain’s first Olympic swimming champion since 1988 and the first British swimmer to win two Olympic gold medals since 1908.
‘My best performance was at Beijing where I broke the world record,’ said Adlington, who also has a European record in the 4×200 freestyle relay, and won bronze in 400m freestyle in the World Championships in 2009
Speaking about the security concerns here, Adlington said: ‘I was not worried about security before coming here. The entire team is very happy with the facilities at the Games Village and specially the food. The Village and its facilities are much bigger and better than those in Beijing.’
Team Head Coach Chris Nesbit was optimistic about the team’s chances. ‘We have a great team. We want to build on our performance at the trials. Our performance at the European Championships was also good. The Commonwealth Games will act as a build-up to the London Olympics in 2012.’
The women’s contingent also includes Gemma Spofforth, a world record holder in 100m backstroke, and Joanna Jackson, who holds the Commonwealth records in 200m and 400m freestyle and a European record in 4x200m freestyle relay.
