On this day in 2010: Rebecca Adlington wins Commonwealth Games 800m gold

By Sports Desk October 07, 2023

England’s Rebecca Adlington won gold in the women’s 800m freestyle at the Commonwealth Games on this day in 2010.

Adlington added the 800metres freestyle Commonwealth title to her Olympic crown as she dominated from the start at the Dr SP Mukherjee Aquatics Complex in Delhi.

The then 21-year-old qualified second fastest for the final behind Wendy Trott, but it did not take long for her to assume control and she was more than two seconds ahead after 200 metres.

Adlington stretched her advantage to seven metres at the halfway point before Trott started making inroads in an attempt to chase down the double Olympic gold medallist.

But Adlington’s unassailable advantage was never seriously threatened as she touched home in eight minutes 24.69 seconds, more than two seconds ahead of Trott and Australia’s Melissa Gorman.

Adlington was relieved that she had managed to deliver after being the favourite to win the race.

“It is the mental pressure I put on myself because I want it so badly,” she said. “I have got the pressure because I have experienced the feeling of being on top and worry that I might never experience that feeling again.

“I’ve got to enjoy the feeling of wins like these.”

 

Adlington won four medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games (Anthony Devlin/PA)

 

Adlington’s win was her third medal of the Games after previously claiming bronze in the 200m freestyle and 4x200m relay, and she went on to secure another gold medal in the 400m freestyle.

She added: “Coming here if I wanted to get a gold medal it was going to be in that event to be honest.

“I just decided to go for it and went for it from the start and at 400 saw I was a bit ahead and thought ‘I might as well stick at this pace, just keep it nice and smooth’.

“It wasn’t about the time at all there, this week has not been about times for anyone, it’s been about the racing.

“It’s been a long season so it’s nice to finish off with a gold medal.”

Related items

  • Southgate: Man United speculation 'a complete irrelevance' Southgate: Man United speculation 'a complete irrelevance'

    Gareth Southgate says speculation linking him with the Manchester United job is "a complete irrelevance" as his entire focus is on England's Euro 2024 campaign.

    The England manager has been tipped as a contender to succeed Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford should United part ways with the Dutchman at the end of the season.

    Southgate is due to be out of contract later this year, with suggestions that the upcoming European Championship finals will be his last tournament as Three Lions chief.

    However, amid the talk over where he could end up later this year, the 53-year-old is not looking beyond the Euros.

    "I've got one thing to focus on, and that's having as successful a tournament with England as possible," he told ITV News.

    "Everything else outside of that is a complete irrelevance to me."

    Asked specifically about the United links in a separate interview with BBC Sport, Southgate said: "There will always be speculation about managers.

    "If you lose a couple of games, you're in trouble - you win a couple of games and it is a different agenda.

    "But for me, [Euro 2024] is a brilliant opportunity. We're looking forward to the tournament. My focus is on how do we go a step further than we went in the last Euros."

    Southgate has been England boss since 2016 and previously hinted he contemplated stepping down after the World Cup quarter-final loss to France in December 2022.

    Despite the fact his deal expires in the next six months, Southgate insists that is not a concern ahead of the Euros in Germany.

    "It's not an issue and never has been," Southgate said. "I have to deliver a successful tournament for England and there's enough work involved in that.

    "I think everybody would expect that's where my focus should be."

  • Broad fears for inexperienced England bowling attack after Anderson retirement Broad fears for inexperienced England bowling attack after Anderson retirement

    Stuart Broad fears an inexperienced England bowling attack could be exposed to problems after James Anderson announced his Test retirement decision on Saturday.

    England's all-time leading wicket-taker Anderson will end his remarkable red-ball career after the first Test against West Indies on July 10.

    Anderson has taken 700 wickets in 187 Tests, the most by any pace bowler in history, but the 41-year-old will play for a final time after Brendon McCullum signalled a change of plans for the future.

    Matthew Potts, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson are all potential replacements, though Broad remains concerned for Ben Stokes' bowling options going forward.

    "England could easily go into a Test match this summer with a very, very inexperienced bowling group," Broad told Sky Sports Cricket podcast.

    "If you don't play a [Chris] Woakes, Mark Wood has a rest and there's no Jimmy Anderson, you could have three seamers and a spinner out there potentially with 20 caps between them.

    "That's quite scary as a Test captain I would have thought. We don't know how much [Ben] Stokesy's going to bowl – we hope he does.

    "But that could leave you a bit exposed. There's only one way to find out with bowlers, and that's to give them a go."

    Anderson's opening-bowler partner Broad retired after last year's Ashes, having finished his illustrious career with 604 Test wickets.

    Having neither of the pair available to lead the line with the red ball in future may pose problems and Broad reiterated his concern over the gaping gap Anderson's retirement will leave.

    "There's going to certainly be a huge hole left by Jimmy Anderson that someone is going to have to step into," he added.

    "And not just by swinging the new ball. But by communicating, by keeping calm if the boundaries are leaking, by tactically being aware of what field works at certain grounds, pitches and times of Test matches.

    "Ultimately, you don't learn that unless you're thrown in."

    Broad, however, remains hopeful that Stokes and McCullum will find the right combinations to take England into a new era of Test cricket.

    "I think exposure for some bowlers now is really important, because there's talent out there," Broad continued.

    "There's bowlers out there that need a bit of exposure to see what it's about in Test match cricket.

    "They may need time to adjust their training plan and how they operate before a tour in two years' time."

  • Anderson open to England coaching role after Test retirement decision Anderson open to England coaching role after Test retirement decision

    James Anderson may be calling time on his Test career in July but the England great says he would be open to a coaching role in future.

    England's all-time leading wicket-taker Anderson will end his storied red-ball career after the first Test against West Indies on July 10. 

    Anderson's 700 wickets in 187 Tests are the most by any pace bowler in history but the 41-year-old will bow out as Brendon McCullum's England look to plan for the future.

    The Lancashire bowler's farewell international appearance will come at Lord's in the first of three Tests against West Indies, though Anderson suggested a move to the backroom staff could be a possibility.

    "I feel excited about what the future might hold, whether that is potentially to stick around with the team this summer in a different sort of capacity, it would be nice," Anderson told the BBC's Tailenders podcast.

    Reports emerged on Friday that McCullum is planning for the long term as he looks to reshape England's bowling attack, with the announcement confirmed a day later.

    England will be looking to build a team capable of claiming back the Ashes in Australia across 2025-26 and Anderson acknowledged that task may have proved too great.

    "It was sort of just looking ahead and could a 43-year-old me make the Ashes in 18 months' time and we sort of came to the decision that probably not," he added.

    "From my point of view, it feels like a stretch at this stage of my career and from their [England's] point of view there are 15 or so Tests before the Ashes.

    "It gives them time to give other guys Test matches and experiences before that. It feels like the right thing for me and the team going forward. It feels like a good time."

    Anderson says he will play for Lancashire before his Test farewell at Lord's, though plans remain unclear on his commitment to the county side after that.

    "I am not 100 per cent set on what I am going to do next," he continued.

    "That will be a conversation down the line and see what they [Lancashire] want to do and if I have the desire and willingness as well."

    As for that final time in England whites, Anderson wants to sign off in style.

    Ahead of the West Indies meeting, the England bowler is third on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers behind spinners Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka and Australia's Shane Warne.

    "Nearer the time and around that Test different emotions will start rearing their head," he said. "Right now I am happy with everything.

    "I am glad I get to play cricket again. I am looking forward to playing for Lancashire, playing that first Test, having fun on the field and remembering why I started playing the game.

    "I would like to end it as I started it, loving bowling, showing my skills and helping the team win."

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.