Study suggests Australia on course to nearly double London 2012 gold medal tally at Rio 2016

Australia swimming team are on track to secure success in Rio ©Getty Images

Australia are set to nearly double their Olympic gold medal tally from London 2012 in Rio de Janeiro next year, according to an annual benchmark study by the Australian Olympic Committee.

The Australian team won seven golds at London 2012, with sailing proving to be the country’s most successful sport with three, however the latest study suggests they could secure total of 13 gold medals at Rio 2016.

According to the study, China would finish top of the medals table with the United States ending on 35, Russia on 25 and Japan finishing with a tally of 18.

Britain and France are then projected to finish on a total 15, while Australia and Germany would end joint seventh place on 13 golds.

“We have moved from a total of seven gold in London in 2012 to 13 gold this year” said Kitty Chiller, Chef de Mission of the 2016 Australian Olympic Team.

“Overall we’ve had a better year, the gold medal tally is a tremendous improvement and the signs are good for Rio.

“Fifth to eighth positon on the medal tally is extremely tight and we still aiming for that fifth spot in Rio if everything goes our way.”

Australia are on course for seventh in the medals table according to the study ©AOC

Swimming is viewed as an area in which the Australian medal tally can be boosted having claimed seven gold, three silver and four bronze at this year's International Swimming Federation World Aquatics Championships in Kazan.

Meanwhile, their cyclists earned three gold, three silver and two bronze medals in 2015, while their sailors were next best with one gold, two silver and one bronze medals.

The study also suggests China will top the overall medals tally with 97 medals followed by the US on 84, Russia 69, Great Britain 48, Germany 41, France 38 and Japan and Australia on 37.

Should the projection prove correct, the Australian team would earn two more medals than London 2012, but Chiller hopes they will get more than that as they attempt to address a decline since achieving their record medal tally of 58 at Sydney 2000.

“We have been in decline since those record breaking efforts in Sydney and Athens [2004] and we feel we can start an upward trend in Rio.

“To do that we need a far greater spread of medals across the sports, we won medals in 13 disciplines in London and we have won medals in 13 disciplines again in 2015.

“We need medals in 20 disciplines in Rio which I think is realistic.