The Brits had a good running at the 2008 Olympic games, finishing with 19 gold medals, 13 silver, and 15 bronze. For a total of 47 medals this gave Britain 4th place standing at the games. The British team leader Simon Clegg although happy with the results, kept stating that the Brits will provide one hell of a show at the upcoming Olympics in London in 2012.
Some highlights at the 2008 Beijing Olympics include: 19 year old Rebecca Adlington's first gold medal win in freestyle swimming making her the first British female to win this event since 1960; the defending champion cyclist team winning their 12th consecutive gold of the games; James Degale winning gold in middleweight boxing and defeating Cuban Emilio Correa Bayeaux (penalized for biting Degale in the first round); and Sarah Stevenson's bronze medal win in taekwondo – Britain's first medal ever in this event.
All British medal winners commented on how their success in Beijing only creates more confidence for the upcoming Olympic home games in 4 years. Gold Medal winner of the 1,000 meter Kayak single Tim Brabants said, "All of us will be back in training in a month's time, back to the real world and the hard graft." Rebecca Adlington who also sees hope for Britain in the next running said that the next Olympic games will "be an amazing opportunity."
So as the Brits sit in 4th place at the Beijing Olympics, who knows what will come of them at the 2012 Olympics when the games are hosted in their own nation. They will train in their own backyard, and this may give them the pull that they need to move from 4th place to first.
Olympics: Britain Highlights at the 2008 Olympic Games
