"The support of The National Lottery and its players has been very important and allowed me to compete and win against the best in the world. With the help of this funding I have access to world class coaching, training and medical support. Beyond that it allows me to concentrate full time on reaching the top of my sport. If I had a message for those that the play the lottery it would be thank you."

Before Beijing in 2008, the clock had to be turned back to 1960 in Rome for the last occasion a British woman won a gold medal in swimming at the Olympics.

But Adlington did more than repeat the glory of Anita Lonsborough. She won two golds. Firstly she triumphed in the 400m freestyle and her victory in the 800m came with her breaking the oldest world record in the book.

Her time of 8mins 14.10secs beat the old mark held by American Janet Evans which had stood four days shy of 20 years.

Her success did not stop there because in July last year, she was back on the podium at the FINA World Swimming in Rome when she won bronze medals in the Women's 400m Freestyle and Women's 4x200m Freestyle Relay.

Then, in December, she triumphed in the women's 800m Freestyle at the inaugural Duel in the Pool, a match between the USA and a combined British, German and Italian team, ahead of this year which brings the European Championships and Commonwealth Games.