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Rio Olympics 2016: Great Britain won 27 golds, finishing second in the medal table.

17:50 22 August 2016

Great Britain ended the Rio Games with 27 golds beating China to finish second in medal table. GB’s final medal was won by super heavyweight box Joe Joyce, who took home a silver. Diver Tom Daley was expected to win but failed to make the final in the 10m platform diving, which was won by China’s Chen Aisen.

 

However, GB has smashed it pre-Games target of at least 48 medals, which was set by UK Sport.

 

Liz Nicholl, chief executive of UK Sport, said that achievements were better than London 2012.

 

"It is more of a thrill because although we knew we had medal potential, we were not as sure about the environment in which we were competing.

 

"Those of us involved know that there is still a huge amount that can be improved. As we look beyond Rio and on to Tokyo, it is looking really exciting."

 

Gracenote's head of analysis, Simon Gleave, said: “It is that slight underperformance in gold medals which allowed Great Britain to take second place in the medal table.

 

"Initially, it looked as though it would be close for second place, with China just taking it, but the surprise gold medals from Nick Skelton and the women's hockey team made Great Britain the most likely country to finish second.

 

"Beating the London total of 65 medals was a realistic possibility once Britain won nine medals on 16 August - the best day's medal haul since Beijing 2008."