Ledecky breaks Adlington's record

Rebecca Adlington is no longer the 800 metres freestyle world record-holder after 16-year-old Katie Ledecky replaced her as the fastest woman over 16 lengths at the World Championships in Barcelona.

The American claimed Adlington's Olympic crown last summer with a time just 0.53 seconds off the Briton's world record time of eight minutes 14.10 seconds.

The teenager had already won three gold medals and destroyed the 1,500m freestyle world mark this week at the Palau Sant Jordi.

Adlington had predicted that Ledecky would do a time of 8:12 but it was not until the 650m mark that she took over from Lotte Friis and put the burners on to win in 8:13.86, taking 0.24 off the old mark.

Adlington, who set the world record at the Olympics in 2008, was looking on and said: "She's had an amazing week - four golds and two world records.

"I messaged her the other day and she said she would like to meet up to say hi and I said, 'I think you might be a bit busy but if you've got a little bit of time on your hands!'

"Five years is a good time to have held the record.

"It's a shame my name won't be on the programme any more, that will be sad, but it lasted through the suit era and that is encouraging

"I would have liked to have had it a bit longer - maybe not like Janet Evans' 19 years - but a bit.

"She is an amazing athlete, I'm glad to see her do it.

"I am so happy for her. She is so lovely which always makes it better."