Top News

LegendaryTeam GB hero Rebecca Adlington has disclosed that her income has dropped since the pandemic as she opened up on life after the Olympics. After hanging up her goggles in 2013, Adlington transitioned into sports punditry, reality television appearances, and co-founded 'Swim!' alongside fellow Olympic swimmer Steve Parry - a national children's swimming operation spanning 12 venues.

Despite her ventures beyond the pool previously generating substantial revenue, she told The Timesabout her new financial reality.

"My earnings have fallen massively over the past couple of years," she revealed. "Although, saying that, they are slightly more stable because I have a full-time job as director of the swimming business I co-own. I have additional part-time revenue streams on top of that. For example, speaking engagements, working with brands, campaigns, telly gigs etc."

"A lot of that side of my income has definitely dropped. I'm nowhere near what I used to earn pre-Covid because that was in that era of London 2012, when I was one of a small group of Olympians, whereas now that group is obviously much bigger so the demand isn't there.

• Rebecca Adlington reveals 'fearful' pregnancy in heartbreaking post

• Pregnant Rebecca Adlington 'taking each day as it comes' after heartbreaking miscarriages

"I know it sounds really cheesy, but the London Olympics inspired me to start the business. I knew I always wanted to go grassroots rather than into coaching and eventually we [Adlington and Parry] started to build our own swimming halls."

Despite this, Adlington and her family reside in a five-bedroom house in Cheshire, which she refers to as her "dream home". However, there's no swimming pool as she admits she doesn't "quite have the bank account for it."

She first stepped onto the property ladder at 20 with a new-build in Nottingham that cost £150,000, a move she was keen on after "wasting loads of money" on rent.

When asked if she has ever been concerned about financial stability, she responded: "No. I've been in a very fortunate position. I always had my parents' support, and then I was 19 when Beijing happened.

"And that's when I was able to get more funding and a few sponsorships. It absolutely changed my life in more ways than you can imagine and set me up to provide for my family."

Her most lucrative gig was on 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!' where she earned approximately £70,000. Reflecting on the experience, she said: "I'd never had any form of money like that before. I was a bit apprehensive because I'm not really a camping girl, but it was just amazing."

When it comes to spending, her priciest outlays are on getaways, but otherwise she prefers to save her cash. Asked about her most lavish buy, she admitted: "I'm so boring. I feel like I need to go and be extravagant. I just lease my car and really don't care about those things. The only purchase that I can think of are my custom-made engagement and wedding rings.

"Together they cost £6,000. They're by the same jewellery designer, Anuka, as I wanted them to match in terms of style. So that was probably the biggest expense, though I shared the cost with my husband."