The average person wants to feel proud about how their country does on the global sporting stage. Australia has embraced this as its culture so glad to see that the UK has finally now done so, my Aussie husband is livid me as a Brit I just smile....

sasha, Melbourne, Australia

Rather than gloating at the aussies lets gloat at the yanks- british empire ahead of them for golds and total medals!

Mark Shakespeare, Sleaford, Lincolnshire

I never thought being British and living in Australia could be so much fun!!

Matt Francis, Melbourne, Australia

I am loving the athletes and the execution of all the sports of this Olympics. However, as a Brit, in this current climate, I am so pleased we have something to be proud of. This country is great and I agree with Marion, we also have great sportmanship. Well done to Team GB you're great Trisha GB!!

trisha, Hemel Hempstead, Herts

Not to spoil the party or anything, but "punching way above our weight?"
One word.

Australia.

Ali Dundee, Dundee,

success can be addictive and you'll soon be spending 2-3% of government money on capturing gold. headlines in australia about our performance are saying that we are failing to match the spending of GB and china, the only thing that really matters. enjoy it but you will pay in the end, just as we do.

tim, NSW, AUS

Thank you John Major for setting up the lottery in the face of enormous opposition from the present Govt. The funding that the lottery has made possible stems from his dream.

D West, Templecombe, UK

I am a Brit living in Australia and I am amazed and proud at the achievements of the British at these games. I am so used to us not doing well and other countries always so quick to put the boot in. Well done Britain, I would have still been proud of one medal but this is fantastic. Well done!

Nicki, Adelaide, Australia

The reason we are winning so many medals is that we are spending lots of lottery money training athletes. Money does not guarantee success (just look at the lawn tennis association for an example) but along with good planning it is a vital ingredient.

Wilbur Watson, bangor, Wales

AND..congratulations to all the OZ, NZ and Commonwealth athletes who have performed so well ..particularly in relation to population sizes.

We know that our affection is rather one sided but in my pub we are looking forward to the Commonwealth matching the USA

Mike Browning, Bedford, Great Britain

Good article Simon !

For so many years, with a few exceptions, our athletes have been forced to train and prepare with poor facilities, resources and coaching.

Enabled by well directed funding and support, the transformation in self belief and performance has been astonishing and uplifting

Mike Browning, Bedford, Great Britain

Ivor, the number of UK-born medallists is incredibly high, almost 100%. Germaine Mason is the exception; did anyone hear his answer on telly when asked why he joined GB? He started "Well, there were some problems with my (Jamaican!) federation.." and he was cut off dead by Hazel Irvine.

Chris, Worthing, England

No mention of Becky Addlington? ! She was amazing. I hope now the government will stop closing pools and concentrate on getting our children into the water. Fantastic inspiration, Becky, Cassie, Jo and Kerry Ann. Go girls
Louise, Preston. GREAT BRITAIN.

LOUISE RAINES, Preston, UK

Really good stuff but how many were actually born in UK?

ivor, stockholm, sweden

Its all about winning, come on Team GB!

And the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain' is still officially ONE country, that is why the Welsh Scottish and English and Northern Irish compete together!

Size of a country is irrelevant, Japan has 130 million people- double that of Britain and we beat them!

Dave, Chester, GREAT BRITAIN

Is that Whingeing Aussies I can hear? About the Poms, no less. Go GREAT Britian.

Claire, Sydney, Australia

It is great to see the Brits doing well (that is the English/Scots/Welsh/N.Irish before any comments). Glad to see that Australia are doing well too and that the friendly revilary between Aus/NZ&Britain is also good for both teams. No comments from Canada yet, guess no humour ?

A Brit in Beijing

Rodger, Beijing,

This day has been long coming. In 1957, I was third in the English Schools Inter mile without a coach etc. Peter Radford and Robbie Brightwell, Olympic medal winners in 1960 and 1964, won on that day. There was masses of talent but no systematic development at all, no squads, no money.

David Clayton, Heswall, Merseyside

Good on you GREAT Britain, despite being a 5th and 6th generation NZer and Australian its great to see our wonderful Mother country doing so well. Good on you and please don't be too cocky about the success. Ausssie and NZ have had great games success as well (for our size)!

Sam Marshall, Brisbane, Australia

Australia Where the bloody hell are you !

tony, melbourne, australia

There is no denying that the British performance in Beijing has been stunning.

Why, however, must they compete as 'Great Britain?' They do not in rugby, or in football, or in cricket . . .
We must remember, this is the performance of four nations, not one! What would England's medal tally be?

James, Perth, Australia

"Now they are asking how a small country can do so well, so often, day after day after day" - not sure this is correct given a population of 60m people, that's three times the size of Australia. The difference is a resurgence in national pride, a lack of apathy and a more affluent society.

Mike, Sydney, Australia

The Brits have traditionally taken the attitude that "it's not the winning that counts but how you play the game". Perhaps they are now accepting, like other Countries, that winning is what it's all about. Just hope they don't loose their good sportsmanship along the way.
Go the Brits! I'm loving it

Marion Jennison, McLaren Vale, Australia