With the Rio Olympic Games at an end, I thought it timely to consider the medals table. Unsurprisingly, Team USA retained top spot. However, the performance of Team GB is worth noting.
The graphics below present the number of medals won, and the total number of gold medals won by host countries during their Games and the Games four years later. Team GB bucked a recent trend and managed to win more medals in Rio than they did four years earlier at London 2012.
Currently, more than £350 million is allocated to both Olympic and Paralympic sports. This is an increase of more than 10% on the London Games in 2012. UK Sport provides a breakdown of this allocation by sport here. It appears that the heavy investment in cycling, rowing and athletics all paid off, with eleven, five and seven medals won respectively. Other sports, that could possibly have done better given the level of investment were sailing, swimming and boxing.
Given the strategy of Sport UK, under performing sports need to be careful. Some have had there funding cut, or eliminated entirely. Basketball, one of the most popular team sports in Great Britain, receives no funding from UK Sport. It does get roughly £10 million from Sport England but this does not go to fund Olympic pursuits. This is due to the perceived under performance of Team GB four years ago. Not surprisingly, Team GB didn't compete in Rio.
It's likely that athletics, cycling, equestrian and rowing will all receive increases in funding. Expect to see Team GB athletes dominating podium in these sports at Tokyo 2020.