Team GB 2009: Countdown to 2010 & 2012
14 Jan 2010
The British Olympic Association (BOA) has today revealed the fifth edition of its annual performance statistics for summer and winter Olympic sport, collating results from World Championships and other relevant World level competitions to create relative Olympic medal tables.
With the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games less than a month away, the data demonstrates the exciting level of potential that has developed in British winter sport.
Team GB’s winter athletes won four medals – two gold and two silver - at World Championships in 2009 to place 14th in the relative medal table. Gold medals were claimed by men’s curling and women’s two-man bobsleigh, supported by a pair of silver medals in skeleton.
Following Team GB’s unprecedented success at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, where the fourth place position that had been the target for London 2012 was achieved four years early, there were further reasons to be encouraged by the performances of many summer sports during 2009.
Two of Britain’s flagship Olympic sports, aquatics and athletics, recorded their best results since at least 2000 and 2004 respectively, showing the strong progress they have made over recent years. Athletes from the sports of judo, triathlon and tennis also contributed to the medal tally in 2009, where they had not in 2008.
Overall, Team GB placed fifth in the 2009 relative table, recording 38 medals, including 13 gold, 15 silver and 10 bronze.
BOA Chief Executive Andy Hunt said:
“With the countdown to Vancouver 2010 nearing its climax, it is encouraging to see the potential that exists within British winter sport.
“The BOA’s mission for Vancouver is to enable every member of Team GB to reach his or her full potential, and in so doing, achieve a personal best performance. In Turin four years ago, Team GB won one medal, Shelley Rudman’s excellent silver in the skeleton. We hope to improve on that performance in Canada. What the Countdown statistics show us is that a number of our athletes will go to the Olympic Winter Games against a backdrop of great form.
“Our guiding philosophy at the BOA is 'Better Never Stops' and we have worked relentlessly over the past years and months to ensure that we have done everything possible to help Team GB athletes reach their full potential in Vancouver; no stone has been left unturned in our preparations.
“Looking ahead to London 2012, it is very encouraging to see the improvements in multi-medal opportunity sports such as athletics and aquatics.
“The outstanding performances of Team GB’s young athletes at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival and the summer and winter European Youth Olympic Festivals also gave great cause for optimism in 2009. Competing against the best young talent from 49 European nations and across the world, Team GB achieved an exceptional 95 medals, including 37 gold. It’s very pleasing to think that our young athletes have shown such outstanding potential.”
BOA Director of Olympic Performance Clive Woodward, said:
“Of course, the year immediately following an Olympic Games is treated by many high-performance sports as an opportunity to test new systems, give younger athletes experience of world level competition and award some of our outstanding Beijing Olympic Champions a chance to rest and re-focus.
“This strategy was implemented by the GB track cycling team and is reflected in the 2009 medal table. I have no doubt that come 2012 the information and experience gathered from this type of experimentation will be of great value.
“The priority is to make sure British Olympic sports are all moving in the right direction, and that our athletes and coaches are supported by us all so that they can go out there and deliver. This information is interesting and encouraging, but the tables that matter the most come at the Olympic Games – and, with respect to summer sport, we remain confident and fully focused on achieving our target of fourth place in the London 2012 Olympic Games medal table.”
Notes to editors:
Click here to view the full statistics.
Results are collated for the BOA by an independent statistician using relevant World level competitions in each Olympic sport. The medal tables provided are theoretical and represent events that are included in London 2012 competition programme only. For example, the 2008 tables that have been created to gauge performances in 2008 reflect the events that will be in the 2012 Olympic Games. They do not match the actual 2008 Olympic Games medal table for sports where the events have been changed for 2012 - canoeing, cycling, tennis and boxing. Baseball and softball results are not included for the same reason.
The British Olympic Association (BOA) is the National Olympic Committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Its role is to prepare our nation’s finest athletes for and lead them at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. The BOA delivers extensive elite level support services to Britain’s Olympic athletes and their National Governing Bodies throughout each Olympic cycle and, in the UK, is responsible for the development and protection of the Olympic Movement.
Follow Team GB at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games: www.teamgb.com
For further information contact BOA Communications Officer Phil Wilkinson: 02078425721 / 07525951067 / philip.wilkinson@boa.org.uk