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 Olympics experience in the London Games.

Following his disappointment in the synchronised event and the public spat with his diving partner Blake Aldridge, 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."

Davies's sentiments were echoed by Michael Phelps, the 23-year-old American swimming icon who took his personal gold medal collection to 14 with his haul of eight in Beijing.

"The whole British Olympic team is going to be so much better in four years because it's on their home soil and this is their country," said Phelps, who was in London for the changeover festivities.

"They will do everything they can to prepare to make sure that it's a part of their career that is so much better than anything they have ever done, and show their home country what they can do."

Roger Black, silver medallist in the 400m and 4x400m relay at the 1996 Atlanta Games believes the whole British team are ready to improve on the Beijing success.

"This is just going to grow and grow and grow over the next four years. It is going to be huge," said Black.