Nick Westby: Eliminated Willmott claims bragging rights over her father

Yet, such is the nature of competition at the highest level, that others may put in the same hours of dedicated training only for their Olympic experience to last barely a few minutes.

That was the case for Middlesbrough’s 19-year-old swimmer Aimee Willmott, whose maiden campaign in the greatest show on earth started on Saturday morning...and finished on Saturday morning.

Indeed, Willmott’s Olympic contribution lasted all of 4mins 38.87secs, the amount of time it took her to be eliminated from the heats of the women’s 400m individual medley.

It sounds harsh to put it so bluntly, particularly as her time was just a second slower than her personal best, and she finished fifth in a very competitive heat.

Plus, Willmott is only 19, and did not freeze on the Olympic stage in front of nearly 17,000 fans roaring her on.

To further hearten her, she also achieved her stated ambition of beating her father Stuart’s accomplishment in Los Angeles. He finished 15th on July 28, 1984; his daughter finished 11th exactly 28 years later to the day.

There will be better times ahead for the younger Willmott, who can take heart from her performance.

She also knows that while her butterfly and particularly backstroke were strong in the first 200m of the race, her breaststroke and freestyle were not up to the standard of Olympic competition.

The fact she acknowledged this in the bowels of the aquatics centre on Saturday morning, spoke volumes of her maturity and determination to improve.

If she continues on her course, the 2016 Games in Rio will almost certainly offer her a second shot at glory.

But what of the next two weeks?

After all, London 2012 was barely, officially, 12 hours old when she was eliminated shortly before midday.

Willmott plans to let her hair down, and who can blame her.

Buoyed by all the messages of support she has had, from not only friends and family but previously unknown team-mates she has met in the Olympic Village, Willmott the Olympic swimmer will become Willmott the British cheerleader.

“I’m just going to really get behind Team GB, because without everyone’s support then you can’t do it on your own,” she said.

“I’m going to watch all of the swimming from the Team GB area in the pool and I’m delighted that I can do that.

“Then when that finishes I’ll just get myself along to some other sports and enjoy those

“Because a lot of people have been wishing me well and I want to wish them well.

“Even if you don’t know who any of them are, they come up to you and say ‘hi’ and wish you luck.

“It’s been an amazing experience.

“To be at the Olympic Games is something completely different.”