“It’s hard because it’s something you love that’s not there any more,” said the 26-year-old.
“As swimmers, all of your friends are in the sport and your life is very regimented so it’s very difficult to get used to the change.
“You need to fill your life with something else as quickly as possible because the longer you leave it the harder it becomes.”
After the Olympics, Adlington embarked on one of the toughest challenges of her career by taking on a 450km charity bike ride across Zambia to help African orphans affected by HIV and Aids,, external and the “Rebecca Adlington Swim Stars” programme, designed to encourage youngsters to take up swimming,, external will occupy much of her energy in the future.
Nevertheless, says Davies, in the short term, retirement can be hard work.
“Whether it was the right decision or not, there’s going to be a time in six months when there’s a major competition on and she really just misses being there with her mates and experiencing the highs and lows these events bring,” she says.
But Payne does not expect her friend to be far from the action for long.
“It will be odd her not competing but I think she is still a huge asset to British Swimming and will still be around in some capacity,” she says.
“I think she will do all she can to be at the next Olympics to support us. I’m sure she’ll want to be there.”
