British athletes restore national pride at Games

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London: Britain's much-maligned athletes have restored in the nation some pride and joy with their Olympic exploits.

So much so that, with a latest haul on Thursday of six gold, nine silver and five bronze medals, memories of the woeful showing at the Atlanta Games four years are fading fast.

Then, ignominy followed the country at every turn. From the 347 competitors in Atlanta, just one gold and a total of 15 medals were won.

There was even the case of British diver Tony Ally selling his official team kit for $200 to a tourist so that he could afford to travel home.

For many, that incident was the last straw. Four years on and millions of pounds of investment later, the rewards are being reaped.

'The Sun' newspaper proclaimed Britain had caught "Gold Fever" and the Daily Mail boasted, "Nothing can stop the medal-hungry Brits".

The impetus was provided by cyclist Jason Queally, whose golden performance on the first day of competition was emulated by Richard Faulds in shooting, the men's coxless fours and eights rowers, heptathlete Denise Lewis and triple-jumper Jonathan Edwards.

In the men's coxless fours, Steve Redgrave, a 38-year-old diabetic, became the first athlete to win gold medals in an endurance event at five consecutive Games.

Revelled

Britain revelled in its "awesome foursome" and Redgrave in particular, who, four years after declaring that anyone who caught him in a boat again had "permission to shoot me", became an Olympic hero.

The 20 medals has given Britain its best performance at a Games since Melbourne in 1956, and the glory has been lauded by sports minister Kate Hoey.

Hoey's commitment to the British cause even led her to applying a temporary "Team GB" tattoo on her left arm, and she said, "I have been exhilarated by the success.

"The athletes have been clearly focused. They have known for the last four years that the pinnacle of all they were trying to achieve was here and now."It's wonderful to see their dreams come true."

It has often been claimed that the biggest factor in Britain's resurgence has been the investment of Lottery money to the tune of 36 million pounds ($52.76 million) every year since 1997.

Difference

Max Jones, performance director of UK Athletics, said, "The Lottery money has made a huge difference. It has meant we could get the right support to the right people at the right time.

"But this has also been the fittest British squad ever to compete at an Olympic Games and it has been sheer hard work and dedication that has also produced all these celebrations."

They are slowly catching the likes of Australia and France and Germany as serious contenders in present day world sport.

If they can secure nine gold medals before the Sydney Games finish this weekend, it will equal their best ever haul, set at the "Chariots of Fire" Games in Paris in 1924.

If not, the new-found spirit in the British camp should provide hope for the long term future for, with 750 million pounds ($1.10 billion) more being invested by the British government for sport at grass roots level, Hoey insists "the best is yet to come."

And in the short term? It should be some party at the official British Olympic Association reception at Buckingham Palace on November 16 -- when the Queen will thank personally her subjects who shone for Britain Down Under



(c) Reuters Limited.