Team GB greatest

Team pursuit winners - just one of many

Thirty-five was the target and many commentators thought Team GB was over-estimating the number of medals it predicted to win at Beijing.

And now, it looks like a clinical and measured estimate – a perfect summary of the impressive Team GB set-up.

In sailing, rowing and cycling, Team GB has proved the best in the world.

And in track cycling, they are the best ever, having beaten the five gold medals Italy, Australia and USA have won in previous Olympics. And still on two wheels, there’s more medal chances in new sport BMX and outside chances in the mountain biking.

And so for many fans of British sport, this unfamiliar feeling of dominance is a welcome, if somewhat numbing, experience. This seemingly endless array of finalists, medalists and winners hailing from these shores has left many slightly stunned.

Third in the medal table and with more to come on the athletics track, surely the feel good factor and sense of pride will waken up the dumbest and short-sighted politicians to the benefit of sporting success.

Providing well-funded and protected focused elite athletes is the way forward.

Bring on London 2012.

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