Perhaps nobody at these Olympics faced the weight of expectations that Rebecca Adlington did.

While the British swimmer wasn’t able to defend her titles in the 400- and 800-metre freestyle races, she exited the pool on Friday with two bronzes, no regrets, a flow of tears and a deafening show of support from her home fans - who chanted “Becky, Becky” throughout the night.

“It was tough for me,” Adlington said. “I am not disappointed. That is nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone expected me to get a gold medal. I am so proud. I have been in four Olympic finals and got four medals so that’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

In Friday’s 800, Adlington was second behind 15-year-old American Katie Ledecky for much of the race, then fell behind Mireia Belmonte Garcia of Spain and looked like she might drop further back until rallying behind the crowd’s support.

Ledecky won in 8 minutes, 14.63 seconds - just 0.53 off Adlington’s world record set in Beijing four years ago - Belmonte Garcia took silver in 8:18.76 and Adlington held on for third in 8:20.32.

“I gave 110 per cent,” Adlington said, regaining her composure after a teary-eyed podium celebration. “I am proud to be on that podium. At one point in the race I didn’t think I would be.”

After her golds in Beijing - the first for a British woman in the pool since Anita Lonsbrough 48 years earlier - Adlington immediately became one of the host nation’s top hopes for these games.

The crowd was louder during her races than for any other swimmer at these games - even for when Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian a couple of days ago.

“I am not used to that crowd reaction to me coming out,” Adlington said. “It is something that has been so different. I didn’t know what to expect. I cannot compare this Olympics to Beijing at all. It’s completely different. Not in a bad way, because I wouldn’t have got that cheer for winning a bronze medal if I was anywhere else. That’s what I will take with me, that cheer.”

With two more medals, Adlington has cemented her place as Britain’s most successful swimmer.

“I think I will remember that tomorrow but at the moment the disappointment is there a little bit,” Adlington said. “I just kind of knew after Beijing if I didn’t get the chance to compete for two more golds I would be missing out on something. ... I hope that people still recognise what a fantastic achievement it is.”

Ledecky was also fantastic, swimming the second-fastest time ever in this event.

“She is unbelievable. She has such a good career in front of her,” Adlington said. “I think she will definitely break my world record at some point.”

At 23, Adlington already considers herself old for a distance swimmer. She’s planning to take a break now for a few months then decide whether to continue competing.

“I have to have the passion to do it,” she said. “I have had that over the past four years. I don’t know whether it will still be there when I finish my break. I will have to find out.”

Either way, Adlington has won the hearts of her British fans.