Did the BBC's Olympics presenter Rebecca Adlington just squeeze Mark Foster's thigh?

The swimming coverage was particularly eventful. Photo / BBC

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This is the moment Rebecca Adlington appeared to squeeze the thigh of her co-presenter Mark Foster under the table during the BBC's Olympic swimming coverage, earlier this year.

Double Olympic gold-medal winning Adlington, 27, was working in Rio de Janeiro as a pundit alongside Foster, 46, himself a former Olympic swimmer.

But eagle-eyed viewers spotted her appearing to move her hand on to his leg as he shuffled some papers together.

Rebecca Adlington appeared to stroke the thigh of her co-presenter Mark Foster's thigh under the table. Photo / BBC

It came after Helen Skelton, who was presenting the BBC's coverage of the swimming, sent Twitter into meltdown as fans commented on her tiny navy skirt that offered viewers more than just a glimpse of her enviably long legs. One viewer even accused the 33-year-old of wearing 'no knickers'.

Viewers took to Twitter as they started to speculate on the chemistry between Adlington and Foster.

One wrote: "@BBCSport can you just shift Mark Foster and Rebecca Adlington apart, I'm here to watch swimming not them touch each other up."

Another, Jason Scott Tilley, suggested: "Rebecca Adlington so fancies Mark Foster."

It comes just months after Adlington, who won two golds for Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, announced her break-up with husband Harry Needs after being married for only 18 months.

Meanwhile, many viewers seemed more concerned by Helen Skelton's choice of attire.

Commenting on her ensemble, one viewer tweeted: "Helen Skelton must be going clubbing after this with that dress on," whilst another added: "Helen Skelton should not spin the chair... can tell she's not wearing any knickers."

The ensemble also inspired some viewers who weren't so keen on the sport to stay on the channel, with one quipping: "The swimming just got interesting!" As another agreed: "Wasn't that bothered about the swimming. Am now. Is all."

One cheeky user hammered home the point by posting: "Most of us blokes aren't really watching the swimming, Helen!" whilst one added: "Getting distracted from the swimming by Helen Skelton, Jesus."

The former Blue Peter presenter didn't amuse all viewers however, with one tweeting: "The @BBCSport presenter #HelenSkelton needs to wear appropriate clothing to present swimming. Many ppl don't want a nightclub mini dress #bbc [sic]."

But not everyone was so concerned by her choice of clothing, as one fan reasoned: "People are freaking out that @HelenSkelton was wearing a short skirt. Get over it. She looks HOT and is doing a great presenting job!!"

The incident also came after Helen famously flashed her underwear at the London 2012 Olympic Parade.

Co-hosting with Ben Shephard, the pretty blonde suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction as her short red dress flew up in a gust of wind.

Luckily, the sporty star was able to pull off the accident with aplomb, yanking her dress down quickly and smiling as though nothing had happened.

Helen took over the coverage from veteran sports presenter Clare Balding, and previously hosted the 2016 World Swimming Championships.

She shot to fame presenting Blue Peter in 2008 and has taken on a various number of challenges and excursions for charity.

As well as running an ultra-marathon in Nambia, she has kayaked the full length of the Amazon river and became the first person to ever reach the South Pole on a bicycle.