Australian Olympic team chef de mission Kitty Chiller has called on other sports to step up and emulate the medal-winning prospects of swimming and cycling if the target of a top-five position on the overall tally at the 2016 Rio Games is to be achieved.
The Australian Olympic Committee’s annual benchmark study released on Wednesday gave Australia a nominal tally of 34 medals in 2013, likely to only be good enough for seventh had an Olympics been held this year.
Based on results at events such as world championships, the study flagged a tally of eight gold, 19 silver and seven bronze medals.
Swimming was the biggest contributor with three golds and nine silvers, ahead of cycling (six medals overall).
Prospects are also high for sailing – the big Australian success story of the London Games – although the sport would have claimed only one gold on 2013 projections, compared to three in 2012.
“Swimming and cycling have won the bulk of the medals and the other sports need to step up as we draw closer to Rio,” said Chiller.
“Hockey is rock solid with two silver medals and we have high hopes sailing will continue their outstanding performances from London.
“Sailing has set the bar high for Rio with their aim to surpass their London tally.
“We are hoping the two new sports in 2016, rugby sevens and golf will also be amongst the medals.”
AOC president John Coates said performances by Australia’s Olympic athletes had bottomed out in 2013, with the projection of 34 medals one less than was achieved in London.
Australia’s Olympic medal tallies have been in decline since the highwater mark of 2000.
As the host nation, Australian claimed 58 medals in Sydney, slipping to 50 in 2004, 46 in 2008 and 35 last year in London.
“Clearly we have bottomed with 34 medals and after hovering around this mark for three years there are serious challenges ahead,” Coates said.
“Our intention is to convert many of those silver medals into gold in Rio.
“That can easily be achieved through our partnership with the Australian Institute of Sport and the Australian Sports Commission through the Winning Edge Program.”
The big improvers in the next couple of Olympic cycles are expected to be Brazil and Japan, the hosts of the next two Summer Games.
“Like us, the Brazilians, the Japanese and the current top nations are unapologetic when it comes to striving for success on the world stage,” Coates said.
AUSTRALIAN SPORTS PROJECTED TO HAVE WON MEDALS HAD A SUMMER OLYMPICS BEEN HELD IN 2013
G S B Tot
Athletics 0 2 1 3
Basketball 0 0 1 1
Canoeing 0 1 1 2
Cycling 2 2 2 6
Golf 1 0 1 2
Hockey 0 2 0 2
Rowing 1 1 0 2
Sailing 1 0 0 1
Swimming 3 9 0 12
Tennis 0 1 0 1
Triathlon 0 0 1 1
Water Polo 0 1 0 1
Total 8 19 7 34
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