Becky blitzes rivals in bid to become double Olympic champion

Becky Adlington, already winner of gold in the 400 metres freestyle, goes into the final of the 800m at 3am BST as the fastest of the eight qualifiers, the Olympic record holder and the second fastest woman of all time.

Rebecca Adlington celebrates setting a new Olympic Record in her Women's 800m Freestyle Heat

Adlington's chances of emulating what athlete Kelly Holmes did four years ago in Athens soared last night when she smashed an Olympic record held by American Brooke Bennett since winning gold in Sydney eight years ago.

Adlington was more than 1.5 seconds faster in 8:18:06, a time only ever surpassed by America's long-retired world record holder Janet Evans.

At halfway in her preliminary heat, 19-year-old Adlington, from Mansfield, was inside the pace needed to beat Evans' world record and her lead was already considerable.

She won by more than 3.5 seconds, and was 1.64 seconds faster than the next fastest in the three heats.

'I can't believe it to be honest,' said Adlington.

'I didn't expect to do that time at all but I'm really pleased. My aim was to improve on what I did at the trials and I did that so I'm happy. I knew it was going to be a fast final so I knew I couldn't afford to ease back.'

Her team-mate Chrissie Patten also qualified for the final as eighth fastest but the event is almost a sprint warm-up for her. Her speciality is the open water 10km race, in which she goes next week as one of the favourites for a medal.

There was one disappointment for Britain's swimmers.

Foster is crestfallen after failing to make a splash in the 50m freestyle

The team's flag- carrier at the opening ceremony, Mark Foster, competing in his fifth Olympic Games at the age of 38, failed to progress from the first round of the 50m freestyle.

He was a fifth of a second outside the qualifiers in a time of 22.35sec.

Foster said: 'In the warm-up I felt rubbish. I did a couple of sprints and felt amazing so I thought I was going to be brilliant. Then in the race I was awful again. I don't have any excuses.

'It was the same time I did in qualifying for the Olympics. Going faster in June, when I did a time that would have got me in the semis here, is gutting. I'm annoyed I am not going back out there because it's what I enjoy.'

Foster came out of retirement last year in a bid to qualify for the Olympics after missing out on selection for the team for Athens four years ago. After his failure to progress here, he refused to be drawn on his plans.

'I'm going to keep myself in shape,' he said. 'I'm not saying I'm going for another year, four years or whatever. All I've done for the last two years is keep myself in shape, going to the gym twice a week, swimming once a week and just enjoying it. I've got so many other things in my life that swimming is not the be all and end all.'