By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
Having been beaten in the Ashes, Australia are now set to finish behind Britain at next year's Olympics in London with Russia winning the medals, according to projections released today by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).
Based on results from World Championships, World Cups and other major international events staged in 2010, Russia is projected to win 97 medals at next year's Summer Games ahead of 94 for the United Statesand 93 for China, the AOC said.
But, based on gold medals, the US are set to finish top with 38, narrowly ahead of China on 37 and Russia on 30.
Britain is fourth, with a projected medal count of 48 medals, made up of 19 gold, 19 silver and 10 bronze, followed by Germany on 47, France on 45 and Japan on 43.
Australia, which finished in sixth place at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with 46 medals, will get four fewer at the next edition, including 11 gold, three less than last time, according to the AOC's 2010 benchmark, which could drop them to as low as eighth.
"A top five position is still very achievable," said AOC President John Coates.
"There are five countries jostling for fourth and fifth spots who are all very close together."
An extra $23 million (£14 million) in Government funding to elite sports provided late last year may help lift performances between now and the start of the London Games in July 2012, Coates said.
"It took a while coming but it's kicking in now," he said.
Australia finished fourth overall at the 2000 Sydney Olympics with 58 medals and fourth again in Athens four years later with 49 medals.
China won the most golds - 51 - at the Beijing Olympics but the US won the most medals with 110 to China's 100, while Russia came in third among the sporting superpowers with 72.
Britain finished fourth in the Chinese capital with a total of 47 medals, 19 of which were gold, including three for Sir Chris Hoy (pictured), with Australia in sixth with 46 medals, 14 of them gold.
Sir Chris Hoy celebrating in Beijing
Germany split the two old rivals in fifth place with 41 medals, 16 gold.
"The mid to high forties should be enough to get us into the top five again in London," said Coates.
"That is our aim.
"The spread of medals is now greater and the teams from Western Europe will be a greater challenge in London.
"One thing is certain - if we finish ahead of Great Britain we will finish top five."
Cycling is a sport where Australia have identified an opportunity to hit Britain's medal hopes.
"We won one medal in cycling in Beijing compared to 10 in Athens four years earlier," said Coates.
"The young riders like Cameron Meyer and Jack Bobridge have now stepped up and this is where we can really hurt Great Britain who dominated cycling in 2008."