Rebecca Adlington opens up over heart-breaking miscarriage 20 weeks into her pregnancy

Rebecca Adlington OBE is one of Britian's most celebrated Olympians, and now she is on BBC presenting duties this Summer for the Olympic games in Paris.

Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington won two gold medals at the 2008 Games in the 400m and 800m, becoming the first British swimmer to win two Olympic golds since 1908. She also won bronze medals in the women's 400m and 800m freestyle events at London 2012.

And now she's impressing viewers each night with her coverage of the swimming from the Paris Olympics, alongside BBC regular, Clare Balding. She is providing her professional insight into the exciting events each evening, including Adam Peaty winning silver and the men's relay team also scooping a medal.

But Rebecca has been in the spotlight for far sadder reasons in recent months after she opened up publicly about her devastating experience with a miscarriage last autumn. The 33-year-old swimming star, from Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, has two young children (she shares Summer, 7, with her ex, former swimmer Harry Needs, who she split from in 2016 and Albie, 2, with her husband of two years, Andy Parsons).

But last October, Rebecca suffered the heartbreaking miscarriage of her little girl, Harper, at 20 weeks. Speaking to OK! Magazine about how they are navigating that loss as a family earlier this year, Rebecca said she is 'doing OK' but added, "We'll never forget her".

"After my miscarriage last October, physically and emotionally, the back end of last year was tough. We'll never fully get over what happened, but Harper will always be part of our family", she said sadly. Even Rebecca's two-year-old, Albie, she says, will tell people, 'My sisters are Harper and Summer!

"Her ashes are now in the house, we talk about her. She'll always be a part of our lives. I think you learn to find a way forward - to even talk about her, without bursting into tears."

Last October when Rebecca bravely shared the news of her stillbirth via her social media. On Instagram she wrote: "I don't really have the words right now but unfortunately we went for our 20-week scan this week and they found no heartbeat. I gave birth to our angel, Harper, on Friday at 7pm. We held her, and had time with her. We will forever love her and remember her always."

"I don't have the strength or words right now and don't feel ready to share this news. However, I can't pretend to be ok or fake a smile. I can't have people ask me how pregnancy is or when I am due as I still look pregnant. I don't have the strength to tell this news individually."

She thanked the staff at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester, saying their "kindness and care was simply incredible".

To her husband, Andy, she said: "Your selfless support, love and help is truly amazing. I couldn't have survived without you. We are so truly heartbroken. Our beautiful girl. Rest in peace."

A year previously, Rebecca suffered a miscarriage at 12 weeks, after which she needed emergency surgery and was left fighting sepsis.