Britain's 17 golds and third place in the medals table in Beijing heralds its best Olympic performance since the "Rule Britannia" days nearly a century ago.
The timing of successes in cycling, rowing, swimming, sailing and gymnastics has delighted British sports officials as they prepare to host the Games in London in 2012.
Britain last managed to finish as high as third in 1912 in Stockholm and Beijing is its best games since Antwerp in 1920 when 14 gold medals were won.
It is a remarkable turnaround in just 12 years since Atlanta, when Britain won a solitary gold medal and finished 36th on the table.
