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STOCKTON ASCfs Jessica Dickons will return from the Beijing Olympics weighed down with silverware next year, according to two-time Commonwealth champion Sharron Davies.

The 17-year-old failed to make an impact on her World Championship debut in March as she missed out on the 200m butterfly final after clocking a below par time of 2:11.32 minutes.

But the European junior champion returned from Melbourne safe in the knowledge that her 2006 personal best of 2:09.57 would have put her on the verge of the top eight.

Davies has warned the likes of Australian World and Commonwealth champion Jessicah Schipper and American Kimberly Vandenberg that with another year under her belt Dickons will be one to watch.

gJessica is certainly a tip for a medal next year in Beijing,h said Davies, who is an ambassador for the BBC Sports Personality of Year awards. gShefs got a big few months ahead of her and if she can put on some weight it will make a big difference.

gIfve just got a feeling for her next year and if she puts everything together she will have a fantastic Olympics.

gItfs a bit unfair of me to put some pressure on her but I honestly believe shefs potentially got the lot.

gShefs very wise and calm under pressure and always works hard in training.h Despite her tender years the 2006 British champion wonft be able to use her lack of experience as an excuse in Beijing, having competed at the senior European Championships and World Championships in the last 18 months.

Davies is convinced the likes of Dickons will blossom in the New Year now Team GB has replaced long-standing performance director Bill Sweetenham with Michael Scott.

gWe had a terrible World Championships and thatfs why the media were baying for his blood,h said Davies. gIfm not a fan.

gHe hounded people out of the pool to other countries and he reduced one of our best swimmers (Karen Pickering) of the last decade to tears and that was so wrong.

gI think a number of our younger swimmers now have the opportunity to really progress and flourish under a new regime.

gThe future now looks exciting for British swimming.

gThe atmosphere in Australia last year among the squad was awful and that canft be allowed to happen again.

gHow can the likes of Jessica Dickons be expected to produce on the world stage?

gWefve got some of the best coaches in the world at our disposal and when Bill Sweetenham took a step back the swimmers were more relaxed and Ifm hoping that will help next year in China.h The winner of the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award supported by Robinsons will be unveiled on Sunday December 9 2007, for more information visit www.bbc.co.uk/sportsunsunghero.

9:26am Monday 12th November 2007

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