Rebecca Adlington reveals the real reason why her marriage failed after 18 months
REBECCA Adlington has revealed the reason her 18-month marriage to Harry Needs failed was because he had to work out if he liked her for who she was or what she had achieved.
The Olympic champion, 28, wed Harry, 25, in 2014 and the couple had daughter Summer together before their relationship broke down.
Speaking frankly about the split, Rebecca said her ex "idolised" her and questioned his motives for getting down on one knee.
She said: "He was younger than me, he saw Beijing and really idolised me.
“We were dating for a long time and Harry had to step back and say, ‘I have to figure out whether I like you or whether I like you because of everything you’ve achieved’.”
She added: "He wanted to make sure he was with me for the right reasons."
The couple split in March last year and said they "remain friends";.
Opening up about becoming a first-time mum, Rebecca, who won two gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, said it was harder than any training or achievements in the pool.
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She previously said: "Being a parent is bloody hard work. Harry and I have had plenty of arguments. We’re knackered.”
Speaking to Radio Times ahead of her appearance on a new radio series called On The Sporting Couch, she said splitting in the public eye made the separation harder.
She added: "Your heart is broken any way. It baffles me that someone thinks they can comment on someone’s life they know nothing about.”
While she's free and single Rebecca says she won't be looking for love online.
When a pal suggested she try dating app Bumble, where women start the conversation, she said: "I can't do that because every guy's going to go: 'I just want to go on a date so I can say I've been with Becky Adlington'."
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