Is Rebecca Adlington poised to announce her retirement?

Rebecca Adlington is set to make a "major announcement" next week. Credit: Press Association.

Team GB swimmer Rebecca Adlington is due to make a "major announcement" next week with many speculating the 23-year-old is set to retire.

The double Olympic gold medallist in Beijing is to hold a press conference next Tuesday.

The Mansfield athlete has been critical of British Swimming in recent months, claiming she felt "insulted" by the governing body following the review into the team's under-performance in London, where she won two bronze medals.

She has also hit out at the amount of time it was taking to appoint a new head coach following the departure of Dennis Pursley after the Games.

Adlington said: "Why is it taking so long? We've been dying for them to appoint a head coach for months.

"Surely, that would make more sense for the head coach to be appointed before the review, even if it was just one who said 'look this is semi-permanent, you might want to continue after the review but you might help us until then making these decisions'.

"A lot of us don't know who we are going to at the moment. Who do we speak to? It's awful what's been going on."

The Daily Telegraph understands that at next Tuesday's press conference, Adlington will announce that she has created a foundation to work with children at swimming camps in a bid to combat childhood obesity.

Adlington admitted in October of last year that she would be tempted to sign off her career at another home event.

"The Commonwealth games in Glasgow would be an amazing opportunity and another home crowd," said Adlington - who has been named an ambassador for the event.

"There is something about the atmosphere at the 'Comms'. It is very friendly. I was so honoured when I was asked to be an ambassador for Glasgow.

"I still want to be a part of swimming. If it's not me on podium I want to be a mentor for the young kids coming though."

Rebecca Adlington waves to the crowd as she takes part in the London 2012 Victory Parade for Team GB and Paralympics GB. Credit: Press Association

Rebecca Adlington's swimming career to date:

  • Born February 17, 1989 in Mansfield.

  • 2004: Wins gold in the 800 metres freestyle at the European Junior Championships.

  • 2006: Makes senior international debut in European Championships in Budapest and wins silver, a performance she rates as her "finest swim".

  • 2007: Finishes 10th in the 800m freestyle in the World Championships in Melbourne.

  • 2008: April: Sets a Commonwealth record of 8 minutes 19.22 seconds in the heats of the 800m at the British Olympic trials in Sheffield.

  • The following week wins 800m gold in the World Short Course Championships.

  • July: Breaks her own British and Commonwealth record in the 400m freestyle on the final day of the National Championships in Liverpool. Her time of 4:02.80 makes her the third fastest woman in 2008 over the distance and fourth fastest in history.

  • August 11: Wins gold medal in the 400m freestyle at the Olympic Games in Beijing, Britain's first women's medal in the pool for 24 years.

  • August 16: Becomes a double gold medallist - Britain's first woman double gold medallist in swimming - by winning the 800m freestyle in a world record time.

  • 2009: Presented with an OBE announced before the New Year. Wins a bronze medal in the 400m freestyle at the World Championships and another in the 4x200m relay team.

  • 2010: In the Commonwealth Games, Adlington wins golds in the 400m and 800m freestyle and bronzes in the 200m and 4x200m freestyles.

  • 2011: Another year to remember as she wins gold in the 800m freestyle at the Worlds. She has to settle for silver in the 400m.

  • 2012: Claims the Olympic bronze medal in the 400m freestyle and 800m freestyle at London 2012.

  • 2013: January 30: Confirms she will make a "major announcement" at a press conference in London next Tuesday.