Team GB's legendary swimmer Rebecca Adlington has candidly discussed a significant shift in her finances, revealing her income has fallen substantially since the Covid-19 pandemic.
From Olympic Glory to Financial Reality
The four-time Olympic medallist, who retired from competitive swimming in 2013, told The Times that her earnings have "fallen massively over the past couple of years." Adlington transitioned into a career as a sports pundit and reality TV star, while also co-founding the national children's swimming business 'Swim!' with fellow Olympian Steve Parry.
She credits the legacy of the London 2012 Olympics for inspiring her to launch the business, which now operates across 12 venues. This venture now provides her with a stable, full-time role as a director, offering a financial bedrock amidst other fluctuating income streams.
The Changing Landscape for Olympians
Adlington explained that the high demand and lucrative opportunities she enjoyed in the immediate aftermath of London 2012 have not lasted. "I'm nowhere near what I used to earn pre-Covid," she admitted, attributing this to a larger pool of celebrated Olympians now diluting the market.
Her additional part-time work includes speaking engagements, brand partnerships, and television appearances. The most financially rewarding single gig of her post-swimming career was her stint on 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!', for which she earned approximately £70,000. She described the sum as unprecedented at the time.
Life in a 'Dream Home' Without a Pool
Despite the dip in her celebrity-related income, Adlington and her family live in a five-bedroom "dream home" in Cheshire. Interestingly, the property does not have a swimming pool, a luxury the swimming champion says she doesn't "quite have the bank account for."
She first bought a property at age 20, a £150,000 new-build in Nottingham, after growing tired of "wasting loads of money" on rent. When questioned about financial worries, Adlington said she has been "in a very fortunate position," supported initially by her parents and then by the funding and sponsorships that followed her double gold medal win at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when she was 19.
Her most extravagant purchase to date is a set of custom-made engagement and wedding rings from jeweller Anuka, which cost a total of £6,000, a cost shared with her husband, Andy Parsons. Beyond holidays, she prefers to save, leasing her car and showing little interest in lavish material goods.
