• London Olympics 2012

Adlington going for four golds in London

ESPN staff
February 4, 2011
Rebecca Adlington is confident she can handle the added pressure of the 200m freestyle in London © Getty Images
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Rebecca Adlington has confirmed she intends to compete in the 200m freestyle at the London 2012 Olympics, as well as defending her 400m and 800m titles.

Adlington, who won Commonwealth gold in the 400m and 800m freestyle, also picked up 200m bronze in Delhi, as well claiming bronze in the 4x200m relay.

But despite the hectic schedule, Adlington is confident she will be able to cope with the added strain on her body. The ultimate test of her ability to juggle four events will come at the World Championships in Shanghai in July, which will serve as a dress rehearsal for the Olympics on home soil.

"I handled the physical side of things pretty well at the Commonwealths and I think it showed that four events is possible in London," Adlington told The Telegraph. "I'd love to do the 200 but nothing is guaranteed in any of the events because you still have to qualify and anything can happen in the next 18 months."

Adlington was ranked British No. 1 in in all three distances in 2010, but she admits she will have her work cut out if she is to qualify for the British team, with competition coming from the likes of Jo Jackson, Jazmin Carlin and Anne Bochmann.

"There's not going to be any pre-selection for the Olympics so I'm going to have to qualify just like everyone else at the trials, and we're going to be fighting for two places in each event. My events are also the ones where Britain is strongest, so it's going to be hard," she said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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