Expectations are even higher for the forthcoming games in Beijing. Sports experts and analysts are targeting 5 more medals of which 3 of them gold.
The task will mostly fall on the shoulders of British cyclists, rowers, sailors, and athletes, as Britain has traditionally been strong in these sports.
Let’s take a look at the three biggest names that could triumph in Beijing this summer.
Ben Ainslie OBE
Having won two gold medals already and one silver each in three Olympic Games, Ben Ainslie is one of Britain’s all-time best sailors.
“Big Ben” became the youngest British sailing medallist when he won silver in the Laser class in Atlanta, aged only 19.
In 2000 he fought back and eventually won the gold. After that, he added a significant 15 kilos to his body weight in order to change to Finn class.
The new challenge proved no problem for Ainslie, as he successfully defended his Olympic title in 2004 in Athens, even though he was disqualified in two races.
At the age of 31, Ben’s form has been excellent. He just won his fifth Finn class World Championships in January. There ¡s every chance that he will win a third successive Olympic Gold.
Bradley Wiggins OBE
Athens Olympics was a season of medal harvest for Bradley Wiggins. The cyclist from northwest London won three medals at the Games, notably gold in the men's 4,000m discipline.
Born in Belgium, Wiggins was brought up in Maida Vale. In 2006 he was appointed as London’s Cycling Ambassador by Mayor Ken Livingstone.
He is now preparing for two races in March and May, which will provide crucial intense training, hopefully another exploit in Beijing Olympics.
Paula Radcliffe MBE
Without a doubt, Paula Radcliffe is a legendary British athlete over last two decades. Her career is a mixture of fairy tale and misery.
At 19, she hit the headline when she won a world junior cross country circuit title. From then on, she was awarded numerous titles in long-distance races: 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon. But, surprisingly, without an Olympics medal.
The closest Paula came to a medal was in Sydney in 2000 where she was the lead runner most part of the race, but agonizingly finished fourth. Then Athens turned out to be a place to forget, where she failed to finish both her races.
Despite those disappointments, Radcliffe keeps coming back. She won World Championship in 2005, and awarded the “Sportswoman of the Year” title.
