The Official *Team GB to 95 Medals* Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18787235

Yes we can! 14 medals in Cycling, 14 medals in Athletics, 10 medals in Swimming, 8 medals in Boxing, 7 medals in Rowing, 7 medals in Sailing are the main ones. London 2012, Jubilee Year, time for team GB to prove we're the greatest sporting nation on God's Green Earth. Here is the prediction breakdown compared to the UK Sport target:

ARCHERY: two medals (two bronze - UK Sport target: 0-1 medals)

ATHLETICS: 14 medals (three gold, two silver, nine bronze - UK Sport: 5-8 medals)

BADMINTON: one medal (bronze - UK Sport: 0-1 medals)

BASKETBALL: one medal (bronze - UK Sport: no medals)

BOXING: eight medals (three gold, three silver, two bronze - UK Sport: 3-5 medals)

CANOEING: four medals (one gold, two silver, one bronze - UK Sport: 3-4 medals)

CYCLING: 14 medals (six gold, three silver, five bronze - UK Sport: 6-10 medals)

EQUESTRIAN: six medals (two gold, one silver, three bronze - UK Sport: 3-4 medals)

FENCING: one medal (bronze - UK Sport: 0-1 medals)

FOOTBALL: one medal (bronze - UK Sport: no target as unfunded)

GYMNASTICS: four medals (one gold, one silver, two bronze - UK Sport: 1-2 medals)

HOCKEY: two medals (one gold, one bronze - UK Sport: 1-2 medals)

JUDO: two medals (two bronze - UK Sport: 0-1 medals)

MODERN PENTATHLON: two medals (one silver, one bronze - UK Sport: 1-2 medals)

ROWING: seven medals (two gold, three silver, two bronze - UK Sport: 6 medals)

SAILING: seven medals (two gold, three silver, two bronze - UK Sport: 3-5 medals)

SHOOTING: one medal (one silver - UK Sport: 0-1 medals)

SWIMMING: 10 medals (four gold, two silver, four bronze - UK Sport: 5-7 medals)

TAEKWONDO: three medals (one gold, one silver, one bronze - UK Sport: 1-3 medals)

TENNIS: two medals (one silver, one bronze - UK Sport: 0-2 medals)

TRIATHLON: three medals (one gold, one silver, one bronze - UK Sport: 1-2 medals)







Yes we can!

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Steve Redgrave is predicting between 3 and 5 rowing golds over the next 4 days, and 9 medals in total. Perhaps being optimistic.

[Shelsey93]

Steve Redgrave is predicting between 3 and 5 rowing golds over the next 4 days, and 9 medals in total. Perhaps being optimistic.

Having watched the Rowing that is very realistic. In fact with a bit of luck we could do even better than that.

Today should be a very good day. Wiggins looks a dead cert for gold (much more so than Cavendish ever was), we have chances in the women's time trial too, rowing medals are up for grabs (including the women's pair who have been obliterating the field so far) and on yesterday's form Jamieson could snatch a shock breaststroke medal (probably a step too far for Willis).

[Duty281]

Our first gold of the games is at 11:50 when British rowing pair Helen Glover and Heather Stanning are in the women's pair and are nailed on favourites. BTW, very good assessment by Shelsey93 on our medal hopes.

[Dave.]

In all honesty I think the 4th is still on. A few golds today and we are right in it. Need a few things to go right but it's possible.

[Thomond]

GB will pick up a fair few over the next few days, I honestly think that until now a lot of your guys weren't exactly sure fire hopes. Daley and Waterfield (not gold but some medal) maybe but after that I wouldn't say many have underachieved too much.



Believe in GB, hey will pick up a lot over the next few days and into next week.

[owen10ozzy]

Agreed Thomond...I think we have done as well as we should have so far. Their have been disappointments in the Archery, Judo & Fencing but thats more performance than medals because realistically I & we as a nation shouldn't have expected anything in those events.

As you say Daley & Waterfield were an outside bet for a bronze & obviously we were hoping Cav would medal.

I think today should bring us 2 gold medals and I would be disappointed if we didn't pick up 5 medals today...if we want that 4th spot we need to start pushing.

We have a strong few days ahead of us...hopefully our sailors can pick things up and give us a shot in a few of the classes...we have 10 of the Rowing teams in finals and then we have the track cycling coming up aswell.

[Duty281]

We're currently 14th in the medals table but only 3 golds off of 3rd placed France. We won't get anywhere near China or USA, but that's to be expected with their vast population and with it, they're vast talent pool. So, let's aim for 3rd!

[Duty281]

2 Golds, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze for GB on Day 5, it's been a fabulous day for Team GB who are now 11th in the medals.

More on Day 6 hopefully...

[mystiroakey]

What a day!!

3rd place is actually up for grabs mate- gonna believe

[Crimey]

2 Golds, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze for GB on Day 5, it's been a fabulous day for Team GB who are now 11th in the medals.

More on Day 6 hopefully...

You know, that many medals, after getting hardly any before....are you sure there isn't some kind of systematic doping going on within the Team GB camp? How can they improve so quickly....? Just sayin'

[Dave.]

2 Golds, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze for GB on Day 5, it's been a fabulous day for Team GB who are now 11th in the medals.

More on Day 6 hopefully...

You know, that many medals, after getting hardly any before....are you sure there isn't some kind of systematic doping going on within the Team GB camp? How can they improve so quickly....? Just sayin'

I don't want anyone rowing about this - Crimey, on yer bike!

[owen10ozzy]

Haha Crimey...stirring the pot!

Test those side-burns of Wiggo's....or don't and replicate them on all our other athletes for increased medal chances!

Very good day at the office for GB. Bring on tomorrow!!

[Crimey]

Haha Crimey...stirring the pot!

Test those side-burns of Wiggo's....or don't and replicate them on all our other athletes for increased medal chances!

Very good day at the office for GB. Bring on tomorrow!!

I think there's probably tubes pumping drugs straight into him behind them.

[Dave.]

I blame NBC's tape delay. They are manipulating the medals.

[Thomond]

They're probably staging events like Olympic tetherball and synchronised running to make sure Americans get gold. Those basterds!

[Duty281]

Shall we say a tidy haul for GB on Day 6, 3 Golds and 3 Silver. And the day's not over yet, Halsall may just get a medal in the pool tonight...

[eirebilly]

Its been some day. Still a long way short of the 95 but well on their way

[Duty281]

*Checks medal table*

Up to 5th! Only 2 Golds behind the South Koreans in 3rd and 3rd place is where we'd love to finish!

[eirebilly]

They are doing superbly

[Thomond]

They are doing superbly

Billy, will you shut up we can't be seen to be cheering on the Brits


Seriously though, a very tidy performance from them and there's a lot more to come.

[eirebilly]

When in Rome Thom

[Thomond]

Ah I'm only taking the pish. They are doing a great and besides that Korea feic up, has been a great games. Long may it continue.

[eirebilly]

I think that i am enjoying these games more than i did Sydney 2000

[EnglishReign]

Have a look at this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/datablog/interactive/2012/aug/02/london-olympic-medals-2008-2012-compared?newsfeed=true

We are smashing our Beijing performance so far!

[Dave.]

The 20 is on, absolutely!

[eirebilly]

20 Golds is a lot to ask or expect. Sure Ireland could do it but our athletes have all decided to let other countries win

[Thomond]

Our best sports aren't in the Olympics like. Get (Proper) handball, hurling, compromised rules (so we have some decent international competitors) and we will mop the floor with them.



Can Bullshitting and farming be included? We Irish can talk the hind legs off a donkey and our farmers are the stuff of legends.

[Dave.]

Sure ye can lend us a few and we'll get 20

Handball is I believe is squash/racquetball without rackets?

[Thomond]

Yep.

[eirebilly]

I still think that sheep shagging should be an Olympic event. Gold medal for this Clár Culchie

[Thomond]

It's illegal in a lot of countries though. That's where they get you.

[eirebilly]

Damn boring countries

[djlovesyou]

They can make exceptions though, hand guns are illegal in this country but they relaxed the rule for the Olympics.

[eirebilly]

They can make exceptions though, hand guns are illegal in this country but they relaxed the rule for the Olympics.

You're a good man

[Duty281]

What I'm loving about Team GB is the steady improvement at each Olympics:

GB in Atlanta 1996: 1 Gold/8 Silver/6 Bronze, 15 Medals, 36th in Medals Table
GB in Sydney 2000: 11 Gold/10 Silver/7 Bronze, 28 Medals, 10th in Medals Table
GB in Athens 2004: 9 Gold/9 Silver/12 Bronze, 30 Medals, 10th in Medals Table
GB in Beijing 2008: 19 Gold/13 Silver/15 Bronze, 47 Medals, 4th in Medals Table

It would be great if GB could take another step, get 60+ medals and finish 3rd.

[Dave.]

Atlanta was the nadir - but in the four Olympics before that we won 5 golds each time. Really shows how we have came on!

[mystiroakey]

The only problem I see with getting third- is that we cant go any better than that!!

There are two competitions- china and usa and the rest of us. It would be outstanding to beat russia- but what a slide they are on- they are getting worse and worse!!

[djlovesyou]

All about the lottery funding. The lottery started in 1994 and we first got the benefits for the Sydney Games.

[Dave.]

All about the lottery funding. The lottery started in 1994 and we first got the benefits for the Sydney Games.

Agreed. What was the reaction to Atlanta like - I'm too young to remember. Did people cause a fuss that lottery money came in and we didn't go so good, or did people know it was a long term project?

[Duty281]

The only problem I see with getting third- is that we cant go any better than that!!

There are two competitions- china and usa and the rest of us. It would be outstanding to beat russia- but what a slide they are on- they are getting worse and worse!!

We can't ever realistically hope to catch China and USA. While the UK's population is around 63 million, America's population is 314 million and China's is a whopping 1.3 Billion. Because of that, their talent pools for sport will always be larger and we can't ever hope to realistically compete with the top two. Coming third will be fantastic.

[mystiroakey]

Great to see that this hidden tax(lottery) is actually going into something we care about and not only that actually making a difference- rememeber that lads/lasses- every time we buy a ticket we are not losers! we are aiding out sportsmen! makes me feel better about droping 50 quid a month on it!

[djlovesyou]

I don't really remember myself to be honest.

I was in Atlanta though, and I remember being disappointed every single day that we weren't winning very much. I guess that's why I appreciate every medal these days though.

Saw some amazing things in the Olympic stadium though.

[mystiroakey]

The only problem I see with getting third- is that we cant go any better than that!!

There are two competitions- china and usa and the rest of us. It would be outstanding to beat russia- but what a slide they are on- they are getting worse and worse!!

We can't ever realistically hope to catch China and USA. While the UK's population is around 63 million, America's population is 314 million and China's is a whopping 1.3 Billion. Because of that, their talent pools for sport will always be larger and we can't ever hope to realistically compete with the top two. Coming third will be fantastic.

give it 12 years and usa wont even be able to compete with china!

The pessimist in me tells me that it will become the china games !

[Shelsey93]

The attitude to British sport has changed immensely.

In the last few years, with so many success stories (the Beijing Olympics, Cavendish, Wiggins, Murray, the Golfers, the Cricketers, the Rugby World Cup win and more), our plucky culture seems to have been successfully replaced by a more Australian or South African style sporting and particularly winning culture. The problem with that is that lack of success has become harder to take.

[gboycottnut]

How many Gold Medals did we win at Atlanta in 1996? I am sure that we didn't win more than 1?

[djlovesyou]

The attitude to British sport has changed immensely.

In the last few years, with so many success stories (the Beijing Olympics, Cavendish, Wiggins, Murray, the Golfers, the Cricketers, the Rugby World Cup win and more), our plucky culture seems to have been successfully replaced by a more Australian or South African style sporting and particularly winning culture. The problem with that is that lack of success has become harder to take.

Don't accept it. It's lottery funding.

The fallacy that British people never had the desire or mentality to win was always a nonsense. A lot more people were just given the time, facilities and coaching to perform at a high level without the pressure of securing additional funding from either sponsorship or employment.

Australia, on the other hand, have gone the other way. Funding into sport was cut and they began to struggle.

[ryan86]

How many Gold Medals did we win at Atlanta in 1996? I am sure that we didn't win more than 1?

Just the 1, the mens pairs at the rowing. In terms of total medals, it wasn't terrible compared to 88 or 92, though a downward trend, it's just that one gold pushes you away down the medal table. (Total medals = 17th place, Gold medals = 36th)

[nganboy]

Its not just about population of course. As many are saying its about funding and systems. China's always had people but not the money until recently.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

The attitude to British sport has changed immensely.

In the last few years, with so many success stories (the Beijing Olympics, Cavendish, Wiggins, Murray, the Golfers, the Cricketers, the Rugby World Cup win and more), our plucky culture seems to have been successfully replaced by a more Australian or South African style sporting and particularly winning culture. The problem with that is that lack of success has become harder to take.

Don't accept it. It's lottery funding.

The fallacy that British people never had the desire or mentality to win was always a nonsense. A lot more people were just given the time, facilities and coaching to perform at a high level without the pressure of securing additional funding from either sponsorship or employment.

Australia, on the other hand, have gone the other way. Funding into sport was cut and they began to struggle.

The way lottery funding is done it forces a change in attitude, that was the whole point. The focus now is on medals and success, if an individual isnt getting results they lose their funding. If a sport isnt getting results from its athletes, it has its overall budget cut. The money gives opportunity, but that has to be taken or the money goes away.
Everyone who is funded or runs a sport has to be results orientated now, that wasnt always the case previously. The level of expectation has also been pushed up, the fact we are seriously talking about 50 or 60 medals shows a fundamental shift.

[dummy_half]

Another thing to consider is the effect of the decline of Communism and break-up of the sporting powers of Eastern Europe.

This had two effects on sports:
1 - The end of state-controlled athletic development (with associated systematic doping), with selected kids hot-housed and trained specifically for a decade or more for their event. While the system ended around 1990, the last products of the system were still active in 96 and 2000.

2 - The sudden availability of high quality coaches. GB gymnastics for example has benefitted hugely from this.

So while our funding has improved, and has certainly been a significant factor in the improved performances, it also came about at the right time for wider reasons.

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