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The Mansfield swimmer was presented with her trophy at the BBC East Midlands Sports Awards at the Royal Concert Hall on 27 November. She won the award over Olympic canoeist Tim Brabants and cricketer Ryan Sidebottom.

Her swimming club mate, Ashfield's Sam Hynd, collected awards for both the Junior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year and the Disabled Sportsperson of the Year. 

BBC's John Inverdale hosted the ceremony at the Royal Concert Hall

The award ceremony, supported by Sport England, was a celebration of a terrific year of sport in the East Midlands.

Coach Dave Brailsford

Rebecca's coach, Bill Furniss of Nova Centurion swimming club, collected a Judges Special Awards. Sam Hynd, 17, who swims with the same club, has had an outstanding year winning a Paralympic Gold medal in Beijing.

The GB Cycling Team’s Performance Director, Dave Brailsford, from Ilkeston in Derbyshire was named Coach of the Year.

Young Nottinghamshire gymnast, Becky Downie, collected the Junior Sportsperson of the Year.

GB short track speed skating team

Dr Tim Brabants was given a Special Award for his gold medal in the canoe sprint in Beijing; whilst the Enterprise in Sport Award went to Speedo International of Nottingham who designed the world beating LZR swim suit. 

The family of the late Jimmy Sirrel collected the Lifetime Achievement Award for his service to football in Nottingham, while Leicester bin man Rendall Munroe (boxing) was presented with the Brian Clough Breakthrough Award.

The GB short track speed skating team, based in Nottingham, were team of the year.

Leicester City’s Joe Mattock, who became the second youngest footballer ever to play for the England Under 21 team, won the Football Achievement of the Year.

Leicester City's Joe Mattock

The Unsung Hero Award supported by Robinsons was won by Bill Halstead, a Matlock-based rugby coach.

Bill will represent BBC East Midlands alongside 14 other regional finalists from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2008 in a ceremony at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on Sunday 14 December, where the overall UK winner will be announced.

ALL THE WINNERS:

Sports Personality of the Year
Rebecca Adlington – swimming

Disabled Sports Personality of the Year supported by East Midlands Regional Assembly
Sam Hynd – swimming

Team of the Year
GB Short Track Speed Skating Team

Coach of the Year
Dave Brailsford – cycling

Junior Sportsperson of the Year supported by Sport England
Becky Downie – gymnastics

Junior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year supported by East Midlands Regional Assembly
Sam Hynd – swimming

Enterprise in Sport Award supported by East Midlands Development Agency
Speedo International – Nottinghamshire

Lifetime Achievement Award
Jimmy Sirrel

Football Achievement of the Year
Joe Mattock – Leicester City

Brian Clough Breakthrough Award
Rendall Munroe – boxing

Unsung Hero Award supported by Robinsons
Bill Halstead of Matlock in Derbyshire