Adlington had scare in training

Rebecca Adlington's coach Bill Furniss has revealed that the double Olympic gold medal winner had an illness scare before claiming her two titles.

Prior to the 19-year-old's success in the 400 and 800, Furniss admits: "We had a holding camp in Osaka and she came down with a really bad cold.

"It was bordering on a chest infection and it lasted for about 10 days.

"But she had done the hard work earlier in the year and fortunately it all came good on the day. "

She'll need to rest, refocus and start planning for 2012 Coach Bill Furniss

Furniss, who has now returned home to Nottinghamshire, said watching Adlington's success in Beijing was an "awesome experience".

He said Adlington, who won the women's 800m freestyle in world record time, was an inspiration to others.

"She's a Mansfield girl who has gone to the top of the world and deserves it.

"She has proved to everyone else that with the right application, talent and drive you can exceed in sport."

Furniss, who has been a county council coach for 30 years, said the 19-year-old was still soaking up the atmosphere in Beijing.

"She's still out there," he said. "She's enjoying it and relaxing and she'll have a good four weeks out of the water now.