Olympic swimming champion Rebecca Adlington has revealed that her medals were temporarily stolen during a break in at her Stockport home.
The 24-year-old won double gold in the 400m and 800m at the 2008 Beijing Games, and then two bronze medals in London last year, all of which were taken by thieves early on Tuesday morning.
Adlington tweeted: "In absolute pieces. Some bastards have broken into my house and stolen my Olympic medals!!! Something I will never be able to replace!"
The medals were returned shortly afterwards, but Adlington has told how other valuable items were stolen and admitted that the incident has left her "shaking".
A later tweet read: "Medals have been found. I'm so relieved. They've been in house and stolen Harry's car and got keys. I'm just glad no one has got hurt...Actually shaking."
Adlington is Great Britain's joint most decorated female Olympian, alongside rower Katherine Grainger, with four medals.
Joe Fish
