Rebecca Adlington: 'Pregnant women shouldn't wrap themselves up in cotton wool'

The Olympic swimmer said she planned to work throughout her pregnancy, and hoped to return to work two months after giving birth

Rebecca Adlington says she plans to return to work two months after her baby is born next summer.

The Olympic swimmer said she wanted to work throughout her pregnancy, and hoped she would be able to present the World Swimming Championships in early August after she gives birth in June.

She added that she planned to continue to build a career as a television presenter after her baby was born.

The 25-year-old told the Mail on Sunday: “I'm planning to work through my pregnancy provided everything goes well.

“Women have been having babies for millions of years so there's no need to wrap yourself in cotton wool. I'm due on June 4 and the World Swimming Championships are in early August, so I'd love to be ready to work by then.”

Adlington, who now runs her own nationwide swimming academy alongside TV presenting, said she was inspired by fellow female sports presenters who are also mothers.

“There are some great female sports presenters who manage to combine work with children. Sharron Davies is a mum and Gabby Logan brought her two kids with her to the Glasgow championships,” she said.

Adlington, who has been swimming competitively since she was a child, won two freestyle golds at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and two bronze in London four years later.

The Mansfield-raised athlete was made an OBE in 2009 and appeared on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! last year.

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