London 2012: Team GB reaches target of 48 medals at Olympic Games

Sarah Shaffi, Olympics editor (news) Wednesday, August 8, 2012
8:51 AM

Team GB has reached a target of winning 48 medals at the Olympic Games, with five days of competition still to go.

The team’s 48th medal was a bronze won by Robbie Grabarz in the high jump last night in the Olympic Stadium.

Grabarz’s win also helped Team GB surpass the 47 medals won at the last Olympic Games in Beijing, which were Britain’s most successful Games since 1908.

UK Sport set out the target of a minimum of 48 medals from at least 12 sports in July.

Team GB’s win in the men’s triathlon, where brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee won gold and bronze respectively, was the 12th sport in which a medal has been won by Team GB at this Games.

Chairman of UK Sport, Baroness Sue Campbell, said: “It has been an incredible journey, since winning the Olympic bid in 2005, putting in place the foundations on which we have built a truly world class, sustainable, high performance system.

“The backing of The National Lottery and the government over the past 15 years, and more recently, from Team 2012, have made available the critical investment which was needed.

“However, the financial support is just one component. This achievement belongs to the athletes, their coaches, their support staff, and families; as well as the remarkable crowds who have shouted themselves hoarse in support of Team GB.

“Together they have provided some truly memorable moments, whether on the water, in the Velodrome or on the tracks, inspiring a nation and our next generation of Olympians.”

UK Sport also set an additional aim of having Team GB finish fourth in the medal table at this year’s Games. Britain is currently in third position.

Liz Nicholl, chief executive of UK Sport, said: “When we set our performance targets and goals, we stated very clearly that we believed, on the basis of the track record of sports and athletes, that a top four finish on the medal table was very achievable.

“Everything we have seen in the London Olympic Games so far confirms this.

“We have always known that there is a very good correlation between the number of medals won, and the number of gold medals. However, our ‘conversion’ of medals to gold medals in these Games has been outstanding – so much so that it’s now feasible that we could even maintain the current third place in the table, which would be a truly amazing outcome.”