It wasn't all down to the boys. Rebecca Adlington became the first British woman to win in the Olympic pool since 1960 and also holds the impressive distinction of being Great Britain's most successful Olympic swimmer in 100 years. She even managed to set new British, Commonwealth, European and Olympic records in the process.

Quite the social butterfly, Adlington charmed the press on her homecoming and even enjoyed temporary status as a national sex symbol following a racy red dress that stood her out from the crowd at the Sport's Personality of the Year awards.