And even high jump silver medallist Germaine Mason will be backed by the Lottery in four years when Team GB look to build on Beijing by claiming even more glory in their own back yard.

For the clear majority, reaching the pinnacle of their career in the Far East would not have been possible had it not been for the backing available to them from the millions of people who put a pound down twice a week to try to make a fortune.

Since it was introduced in 1997, the funding has been distributed by Sport England into the various sports that make up an Olympics – and the country has not looked back.

The statistics in favour of the scheme are compelling.

In the three Olympics prior to the introduction of Lottery funding, Britain won 59 medals. In the three since, they have won 105.

Yorkshire celebrated seven Olympic medallists in August.

Rower Andy Hodge of Skipton, Rotherham sailor Paul Goodison and cyclist Ed Clancy of Huddersfield all won gold in sports that have used the funding to become the dominant force in their chosen discipline.

Debbie Flood of Guiseley and Bradford's Matt Wells further underlined Britain as the leading nation of rowers at Shunyi Lake with silver and bronze medals, and Northallerton's Joanne Jackson and Doncaster's Sarah Sevenson took bronze in swimming and taekwondo respectively.

The money awarded to the British athletes enables them to become full-time, eliminating the labours of working a full day and then training at night.

What chance does a competitor who trains three nights a week have over an opponent who trains all day, every day?

It is not only the physical practice that the funding aids. Coaches are paid to work with athletes full-time, as are doctors, physios and nutritionalists.

The facilites at which they train have all been remodelled and improved thanks to the money available to the individual sports.

Rebecca Adlington took the plaudits in the pool for her double gold medal winning feat when she touched home first in the 400m and 800m freestyle.

Following close behind in the 400m was her training-partner Jackson, the 21-year-old from Northallerton who was able to move to Nottingham last year to dedicate her time to improving on her Olympic debut in Athens, when she failed to qualify from the heats.

"It helps massively," said Jackson of the funding she hopes will continue to support her in the build-up to the London 2012 Games.

"If it wasn't for the National Lottery funding I wouldn't be swimming. Swimming is my full-time job, I don't have to do another job, so that money coming in is a huge deal.

"It helps me to live, to buy food, and obviously that money doesn't just help me, it also helps towards the funding of training facilities.

"If it wasn't for that I probably wouldn't have won an Olympic medal or even be training now.

"My parents are there to help me, but they wouldn't be able to afford to keep me going like the Lottery funding does.

"The money coming in is like a main wage for me."

Just days after Jackson swam to her remarkable bronze, Goodison held off the challenge of some of the finest sailors in the world to clinch a gold medal and put behind him the hurt of four years earlier when he finished fourth.

Goodison – who trains at purpose-built facilities in Weymouth that will host the sailing regatta in four years – went into the final race of the laser class in 2004 in second place, but agonisingly ended up outside the medals.

But he laid those demons to rest at Qingdao in August when he safely negotiated the final 10 races to return home with the Olympic title.

"The financial support I get from the National Lottery is phenomenal, as it is from all my backers," said Goodison, who hopes to develop his sailing skills by taking part in the Americas Cup before defending his title in London.

"National Lottery funding allows you to go full-time.

"It means you can go to all the international events that you need to go to, as well as getting the right coaching and the right training. It just makes the world of difference."

Hodge followed in the footsteps of rowing heroes Sir Steven Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent as he led the men's coxless four to glory in Beijing.

He is in no doubt where much of the praise should be directed regarding Team GB's huge Olympic success story.

"What the National Lottery has done for GB rowing is immeasurable," he said. "Without it, we would not have been able to achieve the success that we have enjoyed.

"Unless you were so naturally talented like a Steve Redgrave or Matthew Pinsent, we would have had to rely upon private sponsorship or part-time jobs.

"Without it, we would be nowhere. Now we are able to train full-time as elite athletes.

"The National Lottery is, therefore, essential to continued success."