Team GB Wins Tight Battle With China For 2nd

Leading up to the summer games in Rio, China had two second places and one outright victory under their belts from the previous three Olympics - second in Athens, first on home turf in Beijing, and second in London. Team GB on the other hand have been experiencing somewhat of an upward curve in recent years. A poor tenth place in Athens led to a bullish fourth in Beijing and an impressive third as hosts in 2012.

In Rio, Team GB really found their feet, beating even the mighty China into second place. While this achievement is an example of the importance of funding in top-level sport, the years of hard work and dedication from the athletes are of course still absolutely essential. The infographic below tracks how the medal tallies developed over the games, with Team GB ending with one more gold than China to secure their place directly behind the omnipotent USA.