Davies, who took silver for Britain in the individual medley at the 1980 Games in Moscow, believes the efforts of the GB team in Beijing - spearheaded by double gold medallist Rebecca Adlington - will inspire even greater achievements in four years' time.

"She was super, absolutely fantastic," said Davies. "She got us off to a great start in the swimming pool. Six medals - up there with rowing - and we've got the World Championships next year. We're just going to get better and better."

Davies, 45, is also confident that Tom Daley, the 14-year-old diving prodigy, will build on his Beijing experience in the London Games.

Following his disappointment in the synchronised event, the Plymouth youngster finished a highly-creditable seventh in the 10-metre platform final.

Davies, who appeared in the 1976 Games in Montreal at the age of 13, believes it will stand him in good stead for 2012.

"Sometimes when you are young it goes above your head a little bit, as we saw with our lovely young Tom," she said.

"He just loved every moment and you get experience from the competition, so hopefully in four years' time when we're hoping for him to win medals, he will not be quite so overcome by it all."