Mansfield pool to be named after Adlington, it is confirmed
April 30 - THE pool where double Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington (pictured) learned to swim will be re-named in her honour after its £5 million transformation, it has been confirmed today by officials in Mansfiield.
District Councillors in the Nottinghamshire town voted overwhelmingly in favour of renaming Mansfield Woodhouse's Sherwood Baths as the Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre when it reopens in January.
The idea was first proposed after Adlington claimed Olympic gold medals in the 400 and 800 metres freestyle in Beijing last year.
Mansfield Mayor Tony Egginton said: "Rebecca's Olympic achievements placed Mansfield firmly on the sporting world map and the District received, and continues to receive, significant media coverage as a consequence of her association with the area.
"Since this time, she has been a fantastic ambassador for the District."
The pool is being totally refurbished and when work is complete it will boast six lanes instead of the current four and will have state-of-the-art changing facilities, an enlarged fitness suite and a ground source heat pump to reduce its carbon footprint.
Adlington said: "It's such a great honour for the pool to be named after me.
"As somewhere I learned to swim when I was growing up, I never in my wildest dreams imagined that this would happen. I'm delighted that my home town is celebrating my swimming in this way."
Adlington learned to swim at the facility as a six-year-old with the Council's swimming lessons programme.
She later joined Sherwood Colliery Swimming Club before being talent-spotted and joining the Nova Mansfield Development Squad.
Christine Smith, a Mansfield Councillor, said: "I think Rebecca has demonstrated to young people that hard work and commitment over a long period of time can bring achievement."
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