TEAM GB SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF?

Who would have thought it? As we enter the closing stages of the Beijing Olympics, Great Britain occupy third spot in the medal table. That is not a misprint, the battling Brits are in front of everyone except for the richest nation in the world - The United States of America - and the most highly populated nation on earth - the hosts China.

The 29th Olympiad have gone so well for Team GB thus far that the British public even have a new hero to aspire to and, believe it or not, she is a swimmer. Rebecca Adlington - aged just 19 - arrived in Beijing without fanfare, in fact the majority would have to admit to not even knowing who she was beforehand.

However, Adlington soon made a name for herself as she claimed the 400m freestyle gold medal having trailed for all but the final few centimetres. With that came the promise of further glory as her favoured event is actually the 800m freestyle...and so it proved as Adlington demolished the field to take her second gold medal and smash the oldest world record in the sport by more than two seconds.

The blue touch paper had been lit for Team GB and the cyclists began to confirm there place as the leading team on two wheels the world has to offer. Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins, Rebecca Romero and the rest of their talented team-mates have delivered world record after world record, gold medal after gold medal.

After the obligatory gold medal from the brilliant Ben Ainslie in the Sailing Finn class and the 'Three Blondes in a Boat' - Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson - took gold in the Yngling class Britain had enjoyed its finest, and most gold-filled, 48 hours in modern Olympic history.

It appears, that after years and years and years of waiting, the British public have a team of Olympians to be proud of - not just a selection of individuals who touch our hearts such as Sir Steve Redgrave and Denise Lewis, but a collection of them.

Unbelievable as it may sound, their could be more gold on the way for Team GB as the sailing regatta continues to offer hope while the men's triathlon is often anybody's race. As well as this, Shanaze Reade is expected to be challenging for top spot on her BMX - I still can't believe that is an Olympic event, nobody should be able to have that much fun in the Olympics (Bolt and Phelps excluded).

Regrettably, the Bird's Nest stadium is unlikely to prove a happy hunting ground as the track and field events take over, an area where there is precious little gold medal promise. With the notable exceptions of triple jumper Phillips Idowu and 400m world champion Christine Ohuruogu, the best Britian can hope for is that the likes of Ohuruogu's fellow 400m runner Nicole Sanders can find a place on the podium.

As Australian comedian Adam Hills said last week: "Why are the British only good at events that involve sitting down?"

Okay, okay it was meant as a joke and everyone had a good laugh about it...but he has a point.

Of Britain's twelve gold medals so far, only the two from Adlington have been won without the assitance of a sailing boat, rowing oars or a bike.

However, the performances of our seated athletes have set the foundations in place for the likes of Idowu and Ohuruogu to fulfil their potential and bring home gold medals from the track.

On the whole it has already been a superb Olympics for Team GB and whatever happens over the closing days, it will be remembered for all the right reasons...but wouldn't it just top it off to rub the Aussies noses in it.