Aussie team bosses not blaming funding levels

Updated August 05, 2012 04:36:37

Australia's team bosses say there is still a "mathematical chance" of reaching their goal of a top five position on the medal tally, but if they do not then sports funding levels are not to blame.

Chef de Mission Nick Green and deputy Kitty Chiller were at the velodrome last night to support the track cycling team in their showdown with Great Britain.

"Obviously watching Anna Meares miss out on a medal was disappointing for all of us," Chiller said.

"I had dinner with Nick Green after that and we were feeling a little bit down and disappointed and then both at the same time we stood up and said we need to show positive leadership and strong leadership and be positive and strong for the rest of our team."

Chiller said there will be a post-mortem examination after the Olympics, but money is not likely to figure.

"We are not in any way shape or form bleating about a lack of funding," she said.

"We are not saying we have been out-spent.

"The money that we've been given from the Federal Government in this quad, these last four years, has been a record amount of money to high performance sport.

"More money is not the answer."

It is not that London has not yielded medals.

Midway through Day Eight, Australia had 10 silver and six bronze to add to the gold in 4x100m women's relay.

Only seven countries had won more medals.

Chiller said there had also been 14 fourth and fifth placings.

"Sure there are a few medals we've missed out on, but there's a lot more to come and we need to maintain that positive outlook," she said.

"I hope you guys (the media) can as well, because our athletes read what's going on and they need to have a positive feeling around them.

"In terms of our top-five finish, it's still a mathematical possibility and we're maintaining a very positive outlook.

"At the sailing we've got four crews (in) first and second.

"The canoeing-kayaking sprint starts tomorrow, we've got BMX, track and field, there's a really good feeling.

"Some of the teams, women's basketball, women's water polo, men's hockey (are) really dominating."

Topics: sport, olympics-summer, australia

First posted August 04, 2012 21:26:52