British Gas Swimming Championships
Dates: 5-12 March Venue: Manchester Aquatics Centre
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC 5 live sports extra; daily video highlights on the BBC Sport website

Rebecca Adlington won the 400m freestyle at the British Championships in Manchester on Saturday in a time of four minutes 02.84 seconds.

It qualified the double Olympic gold medallist for the World Championships in Shanghai in July.

She beat Jazmin Carlin, who also qualified in a Welsh record to take silver, with World Open water champion Keri-Anne Payne third.

Adlington will now try to qualify for the 200m and 800m events in Shanghai.

Her winning time in the 400m freestyle was 0.38 seconds faster than that which secured her gold medal in Beijing.

Not many people get the chance to race at a home Olympics. I just hope I qualify Rebecca Adlington

It made her the third fastest woman wearing a textile swimsuit in history over 400m - behind Italy's Federica Pellegrini and Laure Manaudou of France.

"I am so pleased to come away with that time and to get back to what I did in Beijing, especially in a textile suit," the 22-year-old Adlington said. "I can't ask for anything more."

Former world record holder Jo Jackson, whose competition has been disrupted by illness and asthma since late 2009, finished the event in fourth.

Scotland's Robbie Renwick won the men's 400m freestyle competition in 3:51.90, but it was two seconds outside the qualifying time.

Mansfield-born Adlington now turns her attention to the 200m and 800m freestyle having endured mixed results in longer event since Beijing.

"For me the 800 has been really difficult over the past two years as I've got older and dealing with everything," she said.

"I am hoping to have really good solid races here and just try and do my best."

The Commonweath and European champion has spent the winter training in Brisbane alongside Stephanie Rice, the 400m world record holder, as she prepares for London 2012.

She says she has been taking advice from eight-time Olympic medallist Susie O'Neill.

"She [O'Neill] was just like 'be excited about it, it's a great opportunity.'

"It's such a rare opportunity, I know everyone says 'oh, the pressure, the pressure' but it's an opportunity.

"Not many people get the chance to race at a home Olympics. I just hope I qualify."

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