Gold for Adlington ends Britain's long wait

By Derek Parr

BEIJING (Reuters) - Rebecca Adlington ended Britain's long and frustrating wait for an Olympic swimming title with a last-ditch raid for gold on Monday.

Adlington conducted what Adrian Moorhouse, who won Britain's last Olympic swimming title in 1988, called a "smash-and-grab" to snatch the 400 meters freestyle gold which had looked destined for American Katie Hoff.

Joanne Jackson doubled the joy by taking the bronze, banishing memories of darker days like those of the 2000 Sydney Olympics when Britain failed to win a single swimming medal.

Adlington's boldness under pressure on the big occasion made her the first British Olympic swimming champion in 20 years and first women's gold medalist in nearly half a century when Anita Lonsbrough won the 200 breaststroke at the Rome Games in 1988.

Moorhouse, now working as a television commentator, said: "I'm really proud of her (Adlington). I'm proud of both of them, to be able to watch an Olympic gold medal for Great Britain."

As world record holder Federica Pellegrini, a strong favorite, and defending Olympic champion Laure Manaudou faded out of the picture, Adlington -- fourth and 1- seconds down at the final turn -- zoomed down the last length to hit the wall 0.07 seconds before the American in 4:03.22.

"The medal around my neck was my motivation. I couldn't see anyone past Katie," Adlington, 19, said.

"I didn't know what was going on over that side of the pool, so I saw Katie and it was just 'lets try and catch her and keep with her', and that's what I did.

"I don't think either of us expected it, especially two British girls on the podium and especially gold and bronze.

"That race was just completely different, we did go slower than we did last night (in the heats) and it was just about racing and we did that.

"I don't think either of us are natural front-end swimmers, we don't do the 100 free, so we are just naturally suited to the back end of the race. I don't think either of us panics if in the first 100 we're a little bit behind."

Jackson said: "It's a great result to get on the podium, it's just amazing. I'm so happy for both of us and it's great for British swimming."

Adlington won the 800 freestyle title at the world short-course championships in Manchester in April and, with the fastest long-course time of the year in her possession, will now aim for a second gold in the longer race.

"There's different swimmers, the 800 is completely different event, but I'm really confident going into it and it's just about the next two days and getting some recovery and rest and getting ready for it," Adlington said.

"This is definitely the best British team we've ever had and we just keeping getting stronger and stronger and we've proved that we're a nation to look out for now."