OUR COLUMNIST AT THE OLYMPICS REBECCA ADLINGTON ON BECOMING A FASHION STAR AND TAKING TO T.V. LIKE A DUCK TO WATER

Despite her stellar performance as a poolside pundit at the Olympic Games in Paris, former swimmer Rebecca Adlington was stunned to discover that she had also won gold on the fashion front.

- FRANCESCA SHILLCOCK

The vibrant, stylish ensembles she wore while co-hosting the BBC's coverage with Clare Balding and Mark Foster caused such a stir among her thousands of fans and Instagram followers that the two-time gold medallist has become sport's latest style influencer.

For Rebecca, who is more accustomed to practical swimming caps and costumes and admits to having a laid-back approach to fashion, this has come as a lovely, albeit unexpected, surprise.

In her final column for HELLO!, the 35-yearold mum of two tells us how "mad" she found the focus on her appearance at this year's Games, describes her final days in Paris before being reunited with her children, Summer, nine, and three-year-old Albie, and reveals her hopes for further opportunities on the small screen.

Dressed to impress

Being labelled a fashionista has been bizarre! I wouldn't ever consider myself fashionable. It's been lovely, but I find it mad that people comment on that. I think: "We've got Olympic medals, but we talk about my dresses."