LONDON, Feb 5: Britain’s double Olympic champion swimmer Rebecca Adlington has retired from competition to concentrate on grassroots coaching, the 23-year-old said on Tuesday.

Adlington, who currently holds the world record in the 800 metres freestyle, won two golds in Beijing in 2008 and two bronze medals at London 2012.

“I love swimming but as a competitive element and elite athlete I won’t compete any more,” she told reporters. “I have achieved everything I wanted to. Some people want to milk it all they can. I’ve always said I wanted to finish on a high.

“I did feel old at 23, female distance swimming is going a lot younger as was evident in London.

“I can’t compete with that and can’t do the same level of work. I need a lot more rest and recovery. I think it was the perfect time.”

Adlington had already announced she would not compete at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Adlington, who finished third behind 15-year-old American Katie Ledecky in the 800 metres freestyle at the London Games, also won World, European and Commonwealth Games gold medals.—Reuters