British swimmer Rebecca Adlington won her second bronze medal of London 2012, but missed out on gold in the 800m event.

The 23-year-old was beaten by 15-year-old Katie Ledecky, the youngest member of the United States entire Olympic team, who took gold with a time of 8 minutes 14.63 seconds, while Mireia Belmonte Garcia, took silver.

Adlington finished in a time of 8 minutes 20.32 seconds

The Mansfield swimmer had qualified fastest for the final, a whisker ahead of Dane Lotte Friis who she had beaten in a stroke for stroke duel at the World Championships in Shanghai last summer.

The Brit had been on top form throughout the year but Ledecky announced herself on the world stage in June with a time at the United States' Olympic trials that was second only to Adlington.

Adlington, though, was filled with pride, saying: "It was tough for me. 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.

"I was disappointed with the time. I was fast all year, I know it, I don't know why I wasn't today.

"Maybe it was the expectation, the environment, maybe it got to me a little bit. It's something I don't know.

She added: "I am proud to be on that podium. At one point in the race I didn't think I would be. I tried to get a medal and luckily I did."