The Mansfield swimmer, winner of two bronze medals at last month's World Championships in Rome, will act as an ambassador for British Gas and will be at the forefront of the relationship with British Swimming after signing a four-year that lasts beyond the London 2012 Olympics.

Rick Vlemmiks, the marketing director of British Gas, said: “Our partnership with British Swimming goes beyond a traditional sponsorship.

"Swimming is important to our customers and to the nation and we want to help grow the sport at all levels.

"We want to get Britain swimming and it’s great that Rebecca shares our vision.

"Rebecca has spoken many times of her passion for helping to get kids into the water and improving their skills, so she really helps bridge the gap from paddling pool to podium.

"We couldn’t think of a better person to front our sponsorship and help us develop our commitment to swimming."

Adlington said: “It has been fantastic to see the support that British Gas is giving to swimming in Britain and will continue to give for years to come.

"Their objective to get more people swimming is great, and one I share, which is why I am so delighted to be working with them more closely.”

Adlington, the Olympic 400 and 800 metres freestyle champion, has already appeared in British Gas advertising and will continue to be one of the faces of the "Your World" creative campaign.

In addition she will continue to front projects like the British Gas Pools 4 Schools scheme to bring temporary pools to areas of aquatic depravation.

The deal was conceived and negotiated by Carat Sponsorship as part of their management of British Gas’ sponsorship of swimming and their relationship with British Swimming, including the Great Swim Series and Pools 4 Schools.

It is the second mega deal that Adlington has secured since being signed up last October by Australian management company Elite Sports Properties (ESP), set up by 1984 Olympic 400m individual medley bronze medallist Rob Woodhouse.

The swimmer, who became the first British woman to win an Olympic swimming gold since 1960 in Beijing last year, was named one of the faces of swimwear brand Speedo in January in a deal estimated to be worth up to a £500,000 in the build-up to London 2012.