Record breaking swimmer Adlington, who smashed the 800 metres freestyle record to destroy the field and add to 400 metres freestyle gold in Beijing, was speaking on Monday after returning to England with her Olympic medal winning teammates.

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She landed at London's Heathrow Airport to a hero's welcome on a British Airways Boeing 747 emblazoned with the word 'Pride' and a specially designed gold nose cone.

Becky, who became Britain's most successful female swimmer of all-time after scooping double gold, was shocked to see the size of the welcome awaiting the GB medallists at the airport from the media and staff.

The Mansfield teenager said as she climbed down the steps from the plane: "I never expected this. It is fantastic, great. Thank you to everyone. It has just been fantastic. I can't wait to get home."

She was then whisked away to be paraded in front of the nation's press, radio and TV during a showpiece British Olympic Association press conference.

An exhausted Adlington, the first athlete off the team coach, there told Chad: "The reaction of the Mansfield public has been fantastic and I am proud to come from Mansfield.

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"I totally exceeded my expectations and it is amazing to have two medals. I hope my win will influence people. Swimming is a great sport and the more people who get into it the better."

Golden girl Becky (19) - who will go on holiday with her boyfriend Andy Major shortly and take some time off with her family before returning to the pool later in September - says her success has just about sunk in.

"This is all I have worked for. It is awesome to have achieved my dream. I am just trying to get my head around it and how much I am in demand at the moment.

"I am just about getting used to the attention now. But I am sure it will soon die down."

Becky is now heading for her Ryedale Avenue home in Mansfield on Monday evening ahead of the open-top bus 'welcome home' parade in Mansfield on Tuesday evening, a ride in a gold Rolls Royce and the presentation of a pair of designer shoes from Mansfield mayor Tony Egginton.

She also played down repeating her gold medal success in 2012, when London will be hosting the next Olympic Games - an event which Becky now seems destined to be associated with for the next four years.

She added: "2012 is a great platform to build on and I hope people really get behind the Games.

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"In 2012 I will be at a good age for swimming, but I will have to see how I get on.

"Four years is a long time to go and people can really improve, just like I did.

"I am not sure whether I will swim all three events in London, the 200, 400 and 800 metres freestyle.

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"It will be something we will assess in the next two years.

"2012 will probably be my last Games; the training routine is very demanding and I will be looking to do other things, such as getting an education."