Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington has given birth to a baby daughter, named Thea Joy Parsons. The 37-year-old announced the arrival on Instagram, writing: 'Our family is complete.' The post featured a photo of the family forming hearts with their hands around the hospital cot.
Thea is Rebecca's second child with husband Andy Parsons, and her third overall. She also has two-year-old son Albie with Andy, and eight-year-old daughter Summer from her previous marriage to Harry Needs. The news was met with congratulations from fellow athletes and fans.
Rebecca had previously been open about suffering two miscarriages, one in 2022 and another in 2023. She described the pregnancy as a 'rainbow pregnancy' and admitted feeling fearful throughout. In September, she shared her journey on social media, expressing gratitude for the support from the NHS Rainbow Team.
The swimmer revealed that this pregnancy was emotionally challenging, and she focused on differences rather than similarities to her losses. She gave the baby the nickname 'Jellytot' to help bond and avoid comparisons. Rebecca encouraged others struggling with pregnancy after loss to seek help and acknowledge their feelings.
