By Piers Newbery

Sport Academy: Swimming

Katy Sexton is the most tangible proof of Great Britain's rapid improvement since the Sydney Olympic Games, following her victory in last year's World Championships.

The arrival of hard taskmaster Bill Sweetenham as national performance director gave the team "a kick up the backside", as Sexton puts it, and has raised hopes ahead of Athens.

"I think we needed the shock and it's paid off," said Sexton. "I think we can definitely get a couple of medals.

"We got slated because of no medals in Sydney so if we get one at least we'll have improved.

"The team spirit is better than ever before and it motivates you, makes you proud to represent your country."

Sexton hopes to become the first British woman to win a swimming gold since Anita Lonsborough took the 200m breaststroke in Rome 44 years ago.

After Sexton's success in Barcelona last July, and with compatriot Sarah Price also in contention, the 200m backstroke looks to be Britain's strongest event.

"There's more pressure on me as world champion," she admits.

"It's always harder being top dog rather than the underdog but it's just dealing with pressure in the right way and not letting it get the better of you.

I think I've matured a lot... I know what I want and how to go about getting it Katy Sexton

"And there's myself and Sarah to keep each other on our toes, swapping records here there and everywhere.

"It's good competition to have."

Overcoming any inferiority complex towards the Americans and Australians can be a major hurdle in itself for British swimmers.

The amount of ground still to be made up was brought home to Sexton on a winter training trip to Australia's Gold Coast in the New Year.

"It was nice to get away from the snow and the facilities are phenomenal," she said.

"We were training at a boy's school and they had a 12-lane 50m pool and a six-lane 25m pool, all open-air. We haven't got one in the whole country. The difference is just amazing.

"The facilities are the main factor that hinder us in this country. Funding is harder to get but at the moment I'm getting the standard. But if you're up and coming it can be hard."

Sexton lists Price, Americans Nathalie Coughlin and Margaret Holzer, and the Russian Stanislava Komorova among her main rivals for gold in Athens.

But as a world champion she knows she has come on a huge amount since finishing 10th in the 100m backstroke in Sydney as an 18-year-old.

"I think I've matured a lot," said Sexton. "I take it a lot more seriously than I did then. I know what I want and how to go about getting it."