A Very Un-British Olympics

Sporting achievement and British success are not normally found in the same sentence together. But something wonderful is happening in Beijing at the Summer Olympics 2008. Unbelievably, Team GB has climbed to third in the overall medals table sitting comfortably with 15 Gold medals in 11 days of events. Only China and the USA sit above Team GB. And to put things into a greater perspective, if the USA had not the amazing Michael Phelps, who has won 8 Gold medals in the swimming, on their team, Team GB would be sitting 1 medal ahead of the Americans (at the time of writing).

When you look back at previous Olympics there is a gradual development in team GB’s medal haul. Back in Barcelona 92, team GB had a woeful games and finished in 13th place with 5 golds. Things got even worse in Atlanta 96 with Team GB scraping in at 35th with a solitary Gold Medal. Sydney 2000 saw the rot stop as Team GB finished in a respectable 10th position with 11 Gold medals. And finally in Athens 04 we again cemented ourselves with tenth position again with 9 golds.

Team GB Past Olympic Gold Tables

Venue	Team GB’s Medals	Overall Medal Position
	Gold : 5 Silver : 3 Bronze : 12	Rank : 13th
Barcelona 92
	Gold : 1 Silver : 8 Bronze : 6	Rank : 35th
Atlanta 96
	Gold : 11 Silver : 10 Bronze : 7	Rank : 10th
Sydney 00
	Gold : 9 Silver : 9 Bronze : 12	Rank : 10th
Athens 04
So Far in Beijing as of Day 11
	Gold : 15 Silver : 8 Bronze : 8	Rank : 3rd
Beijing 08

What’s the secret behind our success? The majority of the sports where we have dominated involved sitting : Cycling, rowing, sailing, horse riding and canoe. Coincidence? Perhaps, perhaps not!