How Team GB is doing compared with Tokyo, Rio and London

Are we on track to reach our target?

At the end of day nine in Tokyo, Team GB had 32 medals whilst in Rio they had 38 and in London they had 37.   

There has been some disappointment in these games, the Boxers are guaranteed just one medal compared to the six they took home from Tokyo and in the BMX events Keiran Reilly claimed the only medal for Great Britain compared to the four won in Tokyo.

However, as the rowing regatta concluded at this Olympics, Team GB ended the games with their best overseas medal tally. Eight of the 10 boats they took to France came back with a medal which is phenomenal compared to Tokyo where they only claimed two medals, none of which were gold.

Meanwhile, it has also been the best games for the diving team who have won four medals in four events with individual finals still to come.

There is still plenty of opportunities for Team GB to get on the podium as well.

Keely Hodgkinson, who became the poster girl of the games for the Brits, has secured her place in the 800m final which takes place at 8.45pm tonight.

She secured silver in Tokyo at just 19 years of age. She then followed this up with European gold in 2022 and 2024. She won silver at the last two World Championships and set a new British record at the London Diamond League meeting the last weekend before the games began.

Of course, there are some notable absentees due to retirement or injury including British cyclist Katie Archibald who is sitting out of these Olympics due to a freak gardening accident which resulted in her breaking her leg.

Dame Laura Kenny will be in Paris but on pundit duty after she announced her retirement earlier this year. However, British Cycling is still thriving, and much is expected of 21-year-old Emma Finucane who is competing in the women’s sprint, keirin and team sprint.

Her quest for gold begins today as the track cycling gets underway at 4pm.

Before the Opening Ceremony got underway, Team GB had already set targets for their athletes.

The initial target was set between 50 and 70 medals in total and a top five finish in the medal table. Analysts Gracenote predict a total of 63 medals, placing third or fourth in the medal table behind the United States, China and potentially hosts France.

Team GB made its selections based on athletes it expected to finish in the top eight.

But they will no doubt be measuring their success against their performance at previous Olympics.

In Tokyo, they won 65 medals – 22 gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze finishing fourth in the medal table but whilst it was their lowest finish since 2008, Tokyo was Great Britain’s second-best overseas games behind Rio 2016.

In Rio, Team GB won 67 medals – 27 gold, 23 silver and 17 bronze and finished second in the medal table – a higher haul than at London 2012 where the hosts bagged 65 medals in total and finished third overall.

Will they be able to surprise the analysts and beat their best-ever overseas medal haul of 67?

Daily updates to follow.