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If Great Britain is to dominate the medals table at London 2012, Olympic sports need to copy the model that has proved such a world-beater for cycling.
Yesterday in Beijing, there were four more gold medals for Team GB, in rowing, cycling and two in sailing, leaving Britain third in the medals table overnight. There should be more success to come, too, with perhaps another three golds to be won in the velodrome alone, along with genuine prospects in boxing, athletics and long-distance swimming.
Yet it was after Rebecca Romero won gold yesterday in cycling’s individual pursuit, with Wendy Houvenaghel, another Briton, claiming silver, that a consensus started growing for cycling to be upheld as a paradigm for other sports.
“Our model and the system should be replicated,” Romero said. “If other sports don’t take note and try to learn from us, we’re not going to dominate at the London Games.”
Four years ago, Romero was an Olympian in another sport, rowing, and won silver. However, she believes that although “rowing are getting the medals this year again, they could get more and better results”.
Sir Clive Woodward, the director of elite performance at the British Olympic Association (BOA), has spent the past two days at trackside, watching with admiration as the cyclists won their third, fourth and fifth golds. He said that there was no reason why their success should not be replicated in other sports with the right people in charge, but he added that many will take time to catch up.
“Cycling has stepped up to a whole new level,” Woodward said. “They look immaculate, they dominate the arena and they know they can deliver. I have never doubted that British people are winners. When you have the raw talent, in any single sport, then anything is possible.”
David Brailsford, the British Cycling performance director, said that there was no specific ingredient or secret that set his sport apart and that success has come by way of the “aggregation of marginal gains”.
Lord Moynihan, the chairman of the BOA, added his voice for the call for other sports to follow cycling. “You only need to see in the velodrome the presence of the GB squad and their whole approach that success is based on world-class, Formula One preparation,” he said. “And we have to see some of the nonFormula One sports learning from them. There is a willingness to exchange ideas and go forward as a unit to 2012.”
The cyclists should continue to excel today when they expect to win a further gold medal in the team pursuit before tomorrow, the last day on the track, when there are three genuine gold-medal shots. After then, progress to the top step of the podium is unlikely, but Britain is nevertheless well placed to finish above the projected target of eighth in the medals table.
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