Lord Coe, the leader of the London bid, whose constituency when he was a Tory MP included Falmouth, said: “This helps put our sporting status on the international map. Ellen has shown great courage, unbelievable commitment and a real determination to succeed.”

MacArthur’s performance was rated so highly in France that L’Equipe, the Parisian daily sports newspaper, led its front page with the story under the headline, “Ellen, Reine Mer” and devoted two further pages to the record.

Britain’s sailing in recent Olympics has impressed IOC members, including Jacques Rogge, the president, who represented Belgium in the sport at three Games from 1968 to 1976. In 2000, Great Britain won three gold medals and two silvers; in Athens, it was two golds, a silver and two bronzes. Members of Britain’s international sailing squad, such as Shirley Robertson, twice an Olympic gold medal-winner, were in Falmouth to welcome MacArthur home.

By the end of March, the Evaluation Commission will have toured the contending cities, Madrid, London, New York, Paris and Moscow, to examine the plans of the shortlisted rivals. It is headed by Nawal El Moutawakel, of Morocco, the first woman from an Islamic country to win an Olympic gold medal when she became 400 metres hurdles champion in Los Angeles in 1984.