Five-time Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe believes that British hopeful Rebecca Adlington will need to handle the pressure weighted on her shoulders as she attempts to defend her top honour.
The 23-year-old heads into London 2012 as a gold-medal winner following her success at the Beijing Games in 2008.
"It is the hardest thing - the assumption that a gold medal is won before it has been swum," said Thorpe.
"Becky also has the pressure that she is defending an Olympic title as well, which adds another layer. She needs to stay relaxed over the next few days."
Team GB announced yesterday that the swimmers will not be in attendance at the opening ceremony tomorrow night.
