Rebecca Adlington benefits from Lotto funding

Everyone in the UK knows the name of Rebecca Adlington, she’s the nineteen-year-old who won two gold medals at the Beijing Olympics this summer, in the 800m and 400m freestyle swimming. She’s become so successful that she was even nominated for the BBC sports personality of the year award, alongside names such as Lewis Hamilton.

Before the Olympics, no one in the UK knew who she was, such is the nature of success. As a result of her success, and as an aid to her training in readiness for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Rebecca has been awarded a new Lottery grant. Rebecca has received a Lotto grant of £24,000 per year for her training.

The Lottery money will come in very useful for Rebecca, as her sport isn’t overwhelmed with sponsorship. In fact, the Macclesfield born Adlington is still without a sponsor for her swimwear, despite being a double Olympic Gold medallist.

Rebecca insists that despite her win and new found fame, her life hasn’t changed much and she still trains just as hard as before Beijing:

Celebrities have a glamorous life and do interesting things. I’m just in the pool before 6am and that’s not very interesting is it? It’s weird that people now want to know what you are doing.

Before Beijing I’d only featured in Swimming Times so, having proper photoshoots and appearing in magazines was weird. I don’t know how to pose to save my life.

Buying Lottery tickets helps to support athletes like Rebecca, and provides them with funding towards the 2012 Olympic Games in London.