Portsmouth swimming legend Katy Sexton: Pandemic will make it harder for Joe Average to win place in Tokyo Games

The Portsmouth Northsea member, who competed for GB at the Athens Games in 2004, believes it will be 'unfair' to select a squad for Tokyo based on previous results rather than securing a spot through the trials process.

Swimming competition has been stopped in Britain since the Covid-19 outbreak nearly a year ago.

Sexton, 38, a former Springfield School pupil, insisted a lack of racing and training will have halted the progression of swimmers bidding to make a late push for the delayed Games.

The British Championships, currently scheduled for April, are also doubling up as Olympics selection trials - if they are to go ahead at all with nationwide lockdown restrictions currently in place.

But Sexton feels elite swimmers will still have an advantage in qualifying if the trials do take place.

She said: 'With regards to the Olympics and stuff this year, if it goes ahead, if the trials go ahead - I don’t know.

'You always have someone that comes from nowhere and qualifies for the team.

‘I know elite sport has been able to continue so you’ve got your Adam Peatys of the world that have still been able to train.

‘But you’ve got your Joe Average who could possibly have made that team that might not even get that opportunity, or it’ll be a lot harder for them to have that opportunity because they haven’t been training.

‘I don’t feel that’s fair because, to me, that’s what the Olympics is about.

‘How can you pick a team in a year when nothing has happened?

‘I don’t know what the Olympics would be like if they did go ahead.'

Sexton collected a host of honours during a glittering career in the pool.

She competed at three Commonwealth Games, winning a gold medal in the 200m backstroke at Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

Sexton was awarded an MBE in 2004 for services to the sport after becoming the first British swimmer to win a World Championship title in Barcelona the previous year.

But she is relieved to not be battling for a spot in Tokyo amid the uncertainty caused by the pandemic.

‘I’m just glad I’m not one of those people who’s going to be fighting for a space,' admitted Sexton.

‘I’m a worrier, I’d be worrying constantly, what’s going to happen and it’s the uncertainty.

‘It’s the routine, the structure, it’s what athletes like to have.'