TEAM GB are set to complete their greatest Games – and have immediately vowed to claim even MORE medals in Tokyo
UK Sport chief Liz Nicholl believes Britain have confirmed they are a “sporting superpower” by finishing second in the medal table for the first time in the modern Olympic era.
Great Britain's athletes have had an incredible Games and have bagged medals in 19 different disciplines, with the total medal count currently on 66.
China has a population of 1.35bn which dwarfs the UK with just 64.1m.
Nicholl and BOA chief executive Bill Sweeney are determined to raise the bar even higher in four years’ time - despite warning of increased competition from other leading nations.
Nicholl admitted: “It has been an outstanding performance - making history.
“Even the sporting superpowers have not increased their medal haul after hosting a Games.
“We are one of those sporting superpowers now.
“To win more medals than London and be ahead of China is an incredible place to be - it’s spectacular in fact.
“But we want to sustain success and we will maintain momentum now from Rio, onto Tokyo, in order to do that.
“We’re well advanced in Tokyo planning and we can see from the draft medal target ranges that there is an opportunity to build on the success here in Rio.
“We are confident we can.”
London 2012 was a huge success but Team GB's athletes have become the first in the history of the Games to IMPROVE their tally after a home Olympics.
It's a testament to the incredible effort put in after the success of 2012 - with athletes such as Jason Kenny, Laura Trott and Adam Peaty becoming household names.
RELATED STORIES
Sweeney added: "Tokyo will definitely be tougher than Rio.
"You will find a much stronger team on the domestic front and you will see a Chinese team desperate to make a very strong statement on their doorstep in Tokyo.
"The Australians won't lie down and you will have a full Russian delegation as well.
"But the general feeling is that we have enough athletes going through to Tokyo, and the system is in shape, to carry on that success.”
Leave a comment