The Cornish veteran left the military following a misdiagnosed hip injury.

She said: “I was being rehabilitated to build my muscles up around that but what was actually happening was the hip bone was fracturing open the more that I worked on it.

“I was medically discharged after 21 years, so being told that, having that decision made for me and not by myself, that affected my mental health.

“I realised I had to think of something else to do and start a new life.”

Discussing the upcoming games, she admitted that it had “not quite hit” yet.

She said: “I think, for a few of us, we’ve said the opening ceremony when we walk out on to the stage and we parade as Team UK, I think that’s when it’s going to hit.

“When we look up and realise everyone is there for us.”