Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington has described returning to the East Village, the former Athletes’ Village during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as amazing.

Rebecca, who hadn’t been back in three years, said the visit brought back a flood of memories.

“Before going I was thinking, ‘gosh am I going to remember it?’ because it feels so long ago, but it was amazing to go back and see it all finished.”

Rebecca Adlington and her husband Harry Needs arriving at the Emeralds and Ivy Ball. (Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
Rebecca Adlington and her husband Harry Needs arriving at the Emeralds and Ivy Ball. (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

“Even though we only stayed there for three weeks, that was our home, it was the place where we felt safe, it was the biggest event of our whole lives. It’s a bigger connection than just a hotel or whatever. It was amazing to go back and re-live everything.”

But the former Olympian says it didn’t make her regret her decision to retire in 2013, at the age of 23.

“I loved my time in the sport, don’t get me wrong, but it was definitely the right time for me to retire,” she said.

These days she’s a mum to three-month-old Summer, her first baby with her husband and former swimmer Harry Needs.

“It’s just the best job in the whole world,” she said of being a mum. “It’s just been amazing. She’s only three months old, so she’s starting to come into her own and play with toys, hold herself a bit better, she’s more nosey and wants to interact and she likes it when she sees you, so it’s nice to engage bit more with her.”

She said her and Harry also definitely want more children.

“My husband is an only child and I’ve got sisters, and because Harry was an only child he’s always wanted a big family. So we definitely want more, Harry wants four and I’m like, no babe.. .we’ll see how two goes!”

Rebecca Adlington returned to East Village, the former Athletes’ Village, three years on to see how the neighbourhood has changed.

She unveiled one of several new plaques installed by Get Living London to celebrate where the athletes lived during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. To watch her journey, go to Get London Living.