The Royal Navy bade a fond farewell to one of Britain’s hottest medal prospects at this summer’s Olympic Games.

World champion backstroker Katy Sexton was applauded and presented with flowers by staff at HMS Temeraire in Portsmouth before a final practice session in the establishment’s 33-metre pool.

Katy will be representing Great Britain in the 100 and 200-metre backstroke in Athens, and has honed her swimming at Temeraire where she is as regular a fixture as many of the PT staff.

The Olympian could be found in the pool ten times a week – twice each weekday, except Wednesday, and once on Saturdays – as well as in Temeraire’s fitness suite.

If that doesn’t give a true scale of her dedication to her sport, then consider this: last year she swam 2,400km in training sessions – 1,491 miles, or the equivalent of more than four round-trips from Portsmouth to Plymouth.

Katy’s coach and former Royal Marine Chris Nesbit said the RN sports centre was vital in helping the swimmer towards her goal.

“This is by far the best facility in the Portsmouth area. Katy was the second most successful British swimmer at the World Championships in history after David Wilkie, so hopes are high,” Mr Nesbit added.

“In recent years Temeraire has helped produce World Championships gold and silver winners, Commonwealth gold and three bronzes, and European silver and bronze.

“It would have been very hard for Katy to make progress in the same way without Temeraire.”

Temeraire’s Commanding Officer Capt Steve Cleary added: “I am proud, in fact we are all proud of Katy.

“She’s here virtually every day, so it feels as if she’s part of Temeraire. The effort that she’s put in deserves success.”

Although a military establishment, Temeraire can be used by the public if they ask for special permission, and is regularly used by sporting and swimming clubs.

Another Olympian cheered and presented with flowers by Temeraire’s staff was receptionist Kim Minutt, who represents the country in the Paralympics in mid-September.

Like Katy, Kim is an outstanding prospect in the shot putt and discus – especially the former, in which she is six times British champion, twice Europe champion, and world record holder.

When not behind the reception desk, Kim can be found in the weights room, or hurling the discus 60 times and the shot 100 times each week.

“It still hasn’t sunk in yet that I’m going to Athens. I’ve done the qualifying distances, received the selection letter, picked up my uniform, but I think it will only be at the opening ceremony that I’ll realise what I’m involved with,” she said.

Just don’t tell the bosses she does much of her training at Portsmouth’s Mountbatten Centre athletics stadium, not Temeraire…

The 100m backstroke takes place on August 15 and 16 and the 200m on August 19 and 20.