Rebecca Adlington has admitted that retirement is now an option following a disappointing bronze in the women's 800m freestyle.
Although Adlington is still only 23, she concedes that it will be a struggle to keep up with the new generation of swimmers.
"I can't recover as quickly as I used to. I used to do hard session after hard session, I can't do that so much now I'm 23. People say, 'Oh you're so young', but for distance swimming I'm not so young. It's not an old generation sport," said Adlington.
Asked if she was now considering retirement, Adlington replied: "I don't really know, to be honest. Obviously I still love the sport or I wouldn't be upset."
"I'll sit down with Bill [Furniss, her coach], that's when I'll analyse how much I've missed it in my break. I'll experience that normal life in six to eight weeks and see how I feel. I, honest to God, don't know how I will feel."
If Rebecca does decide to retire, she has already planned the next stage of her career. "I've always wanted to do Strictly [Come Dancing]," she said.
Nik Simon
