Top GB swimmers choose favourite all-time Olympians

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To celebrate the Year To Go celebration for London 2012 on 27th July 2011, we asked some of our top swimmers for their favourite Olympian of all time. You could even win one of three GBR Swim Caps

They may be your sporting idols already, and they'll be hoping to inspire a new generation of swimming fans at London 2012.

But who do the stars of British Swimming look up to?

For the seven day countdown to the Year to Go celebrations, we'll release exclusive videos with some of the stars of British Swimming in which they reveal their favourite Olympians of all time.

Just click the name of the athlete to watch their video:

Want to win a GBR Swim Cap?

Agree or disagree? Who is your favourite Olympian of all time?

Leave your choices in the comment box below.

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61

6.28pm 17th May 2012
Megan Thornley from United Kingdom

My fave is Rebecca Adlington..I swim a lot so i know how hard it is to achieve what she has done
60

5.26am 19th April 2012
Izzy Hewson-Barsellotti from Gloucester

My hero is Rebecca Adlington, this is because she has really inspired me to carry on with my swimming and be the best that I can be.
59

9.25pm 9th March 2012
Proud Mama from Co. Durham

My nine year old boy is really into swimming at the moment and is doing great. His Olympic hero is Tom Daley, who I thank for being a great role model x
58

4.02pm 28th October 2011
Rebekah Black age 11 from swansea

I think Rebecca Addlington is my favourite because she is my idol, I love competing in swimming myself and hope that some day I will be like her. I think that she is an awsome swimmer,and has really good technique and is a credit to our country, GO BECKY GO! xxx
;^) <3
57

6.44pm 7th August 2011
Bethan Hinett from Coventry

I think Fran is a really good swimmer and will inspire many people I hope she does well in 2012. Go Fran!
56

8.26am 31st July 2011
maya smith from dulwich

i think my all time favourite would be Rebecca Adlington as she is my role model i always look up to her and think i want to do more in my life i want to beat the world record like she did in bejjing 2008 for the 800m freestyle.If there was an award for the best all time favourite olympian at swimming it would have to be Rebbeca as she always goes out with a big smile and always trys her best and even if she doesnt win shes still smiling.WHEN 2012 COMES DO IT FOR U UR CROUD AND UR FAMILY YOU CAN DO IT WE KNOW U CAN “JUST KEEP SWIMMIN”
Thanks for reading hope you enjoyed it
55

3.31pm 30th July 2011
Ruari Greer from Manchester / Edinburgh

I think the greatest Olympian is Rebecca Adlington. Rebecca combines all the necessary attributes including gold medals, determination, being British, and following this afternoon’s performance in Shanghai a great racer. She still has to compete with Popov and Phelps as the greatest swimmer but for the meantime she is my vote for the favourite Olympian. Go Becky go!
54

7.16am 29th July 2011
Helen spencer from Sheffield

Adian moorhouse because on paper no way was he going to win gold .
But in true Brit fashion on the day, at the right time, he did it .gold
So exciting to watch
Love his hilarious commentary now as a reporter
Also David Wilkie he was my teenage eye candy and all the swimmers had posters of him
Now am showing my age 
Paralympics has to be Sarah Bailey of whom I had pleasure of being on the same team with not only incredible swimmer but when she had to stop swimming she converted her athleticism into the cycling halls of fame to win golds not only in the pool but in cycling
Incredible 
53

9.30pm 28th July 2011
Geoff Dennis from Bridlington

Phelps awesome. Thorpe for me better - our inspiration. However, even though we are a swimming family, it is an athlete and not Daley Thompson nor Usain Bolt BUT Seb Coe. I remeber the 1500m v Ovett after the disappointing 800m Silver. When he ran - the country stopped and now he’s delivering the Olympics on our behalf.
52

5.52pm 27th July 2011
Karen from Cambridgeshire

Four people in the family, four different answers!

Rebecca Adlington (daughter’s hero!)
Ellie Simmonds (other daughter’s hero!)
Steve Redgrave
Tom Daley
51

1.11pm 27th July 2011
Louise from Stockport

We like Michael Rock in our house!

My son loves to watch him swim and he is an all out nice guy with his head screwed on right.

It was a shame for him in Shanghai, but watch his space!!!

Go Rocky…
50

6.48am 27th July 2011
Louise Strachan from United Kingdom

My favourite would be Darren Mew for his previous Olympic achievements and boy what a breast-stroker!
49

6.22pm 26th July 2011
Bethan Hinett from Coventry

My favourite all time is Ian Thorpe!! I loved it when he worre those big suits which looked like a wetsuit!! He must have been boiling!! And Rebecca Adlington when she won double gold in 2008. She deserves to do well in 2012!
48

6.20pm 26th July 2011
Bethan Hinett from Coventry

My favourite all time swimmer is Rebecca Adlington. She deserves to do really well in 2012 and her 2008 double gold was the highlight for me!
47

12.03pm 26th July 2011
Adele from Cheshire

Ellie Simmonds, she is my swimming idol. So young to get Gold & such a great ambassador for swimming. Go Ellie Go…
46

9.27am 26th July 2011
Jon Beardsley from Cambridge/York

Phelps, Spitz, Usian Bolt because he smashes chicken nuggets every day.
45

9.01am 26th July 2011
Holly Thomson-frost from paddock wood, england

Rebecca Adlington , has always been my idle and i would forget that i would love to become an Olympic swimmer one day in 50m fly go ahead Rebecca u can win the Olympics !!!
44

10.55am 25th July 2011
mike g from london

Michael Phelps should be in that list as well!
43

4.23pm 24th July 2011
Frances Barr from Somerset

Liesel Jones - such beautiful breaststroke!
42

3.28pm 24th July 2011
Wendy Price from Coventry

Mark Phelps
41

9.16am 24th July 2011
Melanie from Cheshire

Michael Phelps!
40

11.22pm 23rd July 2011
Mat from Leeds

It has to be Steve Redgrave!
39

8.54pm 23rd July 2011
Danielle from Cheshire

Ian Thorpe
38

8.42pm 23rd July 2011
Adele from Cheshire

Michael Phelps
37

5.28pm 23rd July 2011
Ruth from Warwickshire

Mark Spitz
36

2.18pm 23rd July 2011
Phoebe from Essex

Rebecca from Dundee, Scotland

I am not scottish but she is a amazing swimmer the best in the world!
35

10.39am 23rd July 2011
Harry from Worthing, West Sussex

Jason Lezak, Beijing 2008 4x100m Frestyle Relay, Sheer determination and perseverance.
34

8.23am 23rd July 2011
liam noonan from lincoln

got to be michael phelps
33

7.42am 23rd July 2011
Zoe Cain from Crawley

My favourite Olympian has to be Kerri-Anne Payne.
32

7.35am 23rd July 2011
Tasha from Surrey

Ellie Simmonds is amazing, two golds and she is only 15! Rebecca Adlington is also another favourite and has made swimming a bigger sport in the UK.
31

8.36pm 22nd July 2011
Daniel from London

Lizzie Simmonds - no one comes close!
30

7.46pm 22nd July 2011
Kevin Pickard from East Sussex

Sir Steve Redgrave. An inspiration to many generations.
29

2.57pm 22nd July 2011
Nick Cannon from London

Mine is David Wilkie. Remember staying up very late, when I was eight, to watch him storm home at Montreal and win the 200m Breastroke by a mile. It was a real highlight at an Olympics in 1976 when we didn’t get many golds
28

1.15pm 22nd July 2011
Folarin from United Kingdom

Cielo Filho
27

12.48pm 22nd July 2011
Linda from Derbyshire

Thorpedo
26

12.03pm 22nd July 2011
Sophie Jenkins from Winchester

I would have to say Rebecca Adlington is my all time best Olympian because she arrive in Beijing as the under dog and won double gold I know the feeling of being an under dog.

Michael phelps is also great
25

10.10am 22nd July 2011
Josh Bradley from Hartlebury (Halsesowen SC)

Libby Tricket bless her cotton socks

or Kirsty Coventry shes pretty sweet too x
24

7.47am 22nd July 2011
Ben from Lincs

Simple…mark spitz
23

6.56am 22nd July 2011
Chris Smith from Japan

It’s so difficult just to select one. Anyone who qualifies for the Olympics is a champion in my eyes. In terms of the greatest Olympican (in any discipline) I’d have to go for Sir Steve Redgrave. In terms of swimmers I have to select one past and one present: Adrian Moorhouse is a big hero of mine and watching him get gold in Seoul in ‘88 is the reason I got into swimming. Rebecca Adlington is an immense swimmer and breaking/smashing the 800m WR in Beijing was so special to watch.
Best of luck to the team at the worlds.
22

5.56am 22nd July 2011
Debbie from Peterborough

My favourite olympian has to be Michael Phelps, it was amazing to watch him win so many gold medals at the 2004 and 2008 olympics.
21

9.56pm 21st July 2011
Overtaquatix from Woodcutts

David Willie amongst British swimmers but Mark Spitz was the greatest.
20

9.02pm 21st July 2011
Paul Brookes from Newbridge

Got to be Alexander Popov gold in 50 & 100 free in consecutive Olympics - Barcelona ‘92 & Atlanta ‘96
19

7.26pm 21st July 2011
Samuel Wardle from Leeds

Adrian Moorhouse because he swam for leeds and became a gold medalist (I swim for leeds ...) Sam aged 10
18

7.24pm 21st July 2011
Joe from Bury

Osama Mellouli is an amazing athlete, Olympic and world champion in 1500m, he is extrodinary, and is insperatational to me and everybody from tunisia.
17

6.07pm 21st July 2011
Alice Kuzmenko from London

Definitely Michael Phelps! He’s won sooo many olympic medals, beaten many records over and over, he’s such a big role model to myself and my swim club AND he has a great personality, so is great in the water and out.
16

6.06pm 21st July 2011
Alice Kuzmenko from London

Definitely Michael Phelps! He’s won sooo many olympic medals, beaten many records over and over, he’s such a big role model to myself and my swim club AND he has a great personality so is great in the water and out.
15

4.45pm 21st July 2011
Mark Elkins from Manchester

For Olympics in general, for me it’s Kelly Holmes. Awesome athlete, really down to earth regular lovely person and come on, did you SEE her face when she realised she’d won? Unbelievable!
14

4.37pm 21st July 2011
Helen from Sheffield

Denise Lewis…...Top lady!!
13

4.18pm 21st July 2011
Julie from Stamford

Keri Ann Payne! World champ next Olympic champ?
12

4.14pm 21st July 2011
Audrey Deans from Balmedie, Aberdeen

David Wilkie was the main man when I swam however I’m a Hannah Miley fan from Aberdeen.
11

3.29pm 21st July 2011
Liz from Edinburgh

Hannah Miley!
10

3.25pm 21st July 2011
Verity Orme from Oxford

Kerianne Payne is amazing - she inspired me to take on a 10k swim - it took me a little longer though - 3 hours and 32 minutes!
9

3.17pm 21st July 2011
Dean Walker from Chelmsford, Essex.

Duncan Goodhew got me in to Breaststroke swimming and having met him a few times at different events, from a holiday on the Isle of White in the 80s to a British Swimming seminar in London last year, he is my choice. Closely followed by Mr Adrian Moorhouse. Hopefully there will be a few British Water Polo players in peoples lust after 2012!
8

2.31pm 21st July 2011
Grace from Nottingham

Rebecca Adlington because she’s a good swimmer. Grace, age 4.
7

2.26pm 21st July 2011
Emily Rickards from Nottingham

Rebecca Adlington because she practices so much, i would really like to be as good as her. Emily aged 7.
6

12.43pm 21st July 2011
Fiona Lappin from Glasgow

I still like all the old olympic swimmers like Foster and Pickering but my favourite was always and still is James Hickman.
5

12.41pm 21st July 2011
David from Cambridge

If we are talking about Swimmers then Graeme Smith and Paul Palmer would be some of the most inspirational. Without the facilities; funding of current UK swimmers; and media attention these guys showed the grit and determination in their races to inspire young swimmers who, at the time, had few public role models in the pool.
4

12.24pm 21st July 2011
Samantha Mackay from Canterbury

My favourite Olympian is Steve Redgrave - for his huge Olympic achievements and his amazing contribution to London 2012
3

12.06pm 21st July 2011
Victoria Garlick from rochdale

Rebecca Adlington
2

12.05pm 21st July 2011
Barry Wade

One of our heroes is Steve Redgrave…to win gold in 5 consecutive Olympics is truly remarkable.
1

12.03pm 21st July 2011
Rebecca from Dundee, Scotland

My all time favourite is Jo Jackson! She really does deserve gold in London. She is a great inspiration to me.