The Mansfield swimmer feared that it would be axed and replaced by the 1500m in the name of gender equality but FINA, swimming's world governing body, failed to make a submission in time to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and now cannot make any changes to the programme until the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Adlington said: "I think it would have been a shame to change it at this point in the four-year cycle – it should have been changed after London if it was going to be.

"I don't even know if I'll be competing in London yet, fingers crossed I will be."

Adlington, 20, had set a world record when winning the Olympic title in Beijing last year, breaking a mark held by American Janet Evans for 20 years, but failed to win a medal in the event at the World Championships in Rome in July.

She has now assessed her season and is determined to comeback stronger than ever in 2010 and recapture the form which saw her also win the 400m freestyle title at the Olympics.

Adlington said: "A couple of days after Rome ,me and [coach] Bill [Furniss] sat down and had a chat about it and looked back on the whole year.

"We've learned a lot from it and I had a two-week break and went on holiday and that was just so nice to shut down and get away from it and that really did help once I did get back in."


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December 2009: Adlington to be able to defend Olympic 800m title at London 2012
November 2009: British head coach hits out at plan to drop Adlington event from London 2012
March 2009: Adlington upset gold medal event could be axed