Team GB soap hope

Gold and bronze for Team GB

There seems to be a bit of a sporting spat developing between us here in Blighty and the Aussies.

And it’s not cricket or rugby that’s got the Australian rattled, and rattled they are. It’s in the swimming at the Olympics. Who’d have thunk, eh?

And who would have thought that it doesn’t seem to really bother anyone in Great Britian.

A few years back Australia and the US fought for pools medal dominance. And recently, the Aussies have done best.

But the Great Britain Olympic programme has caused Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates to slur the British success in the pool.

Speaking after Adlington’s gold and Jackson’s bronze in the 400m freestyle he said: ‘Great Britain may have been in lane seven and eight but, um, they seemed to be getting there for a country that has very few swimming pools and not much soap.’

His remarks may be tongue in cheek but it is the first of what should be a long line of whinges from the Aussies in the coming years.

The 2012 London Olympics means millions are finally flowing into sports and swimming is one of those to benefit.

In track cycling, the Great Britain team recently won none gold medals at the world championships – more than all the other nations put together. And having bagged the gold in the women’s road race already, things are looking great for a massive haul in the velodrome.

Great Britain may not top the medal list in the pool this time, but they should do in cycling, rowing and sailing and have a half decent chance in boxing.

The British team have targeted to win 41 medals in Beijing, a haul that would easily outstrip the Aussies for the first time in 20 years.

Time to get your Coates.

share this story: