Rio 2016 Medal Table: Brexit Voters Claim Credit For Team GB Olympic Games Success

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After what has already been dubbed “Super Sunday”, Britain is second place in the medals table with 38 in total, 15 of which are gold.

For context, things were very different for our national team 20 years ago...

Don't think people realise just how far @TeamGB have come in 20 years. Here's the top 25 medal table from Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/TPsLGGm2kL

— James Toney (@jtoneysbeat) August 14, 2016

So what is responsible for this surge in athletic prowess?

Brexit of course.

In 2012, Team GB ranked 3rd, today it ranks 2nd. The difference? Brexit. #BeLeave #GBR

— Craig Robinson (@CraigRobinson96) August 14, 2016

On 14th August 2016 Britain was 2nd in the Olympic Medals Table. This shows that we can govern ourselves @UKIP #UKIP https://t.co/36h2TjYnnI

— David Hadley (@DavidHadley1973) August 14, 2016

Astounding results for team GB in Rio, demonstrating why we don't need EU membership to prosper. #Brexit

— william eadie (@ofside0) August 15, 2016

Head Brexiteer Nigel Farage also made suggestions Team GB's performance was evidence Britain was better off out of the EU.

Go @TeamGB! Loving the Olympics. We are good enough!

— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) August 14, 2016

@Nigel_Farage @TeamGB Heroic. Thanks for saving Britain.

— King Nigel I (@TheNigelFarage) August 14, 2016

As did golden-plumed Tory, Michael Fabricant.

The #Anglosphere are the top 2 medal winners in the #Olympics
Yaaaaay!
And all because of #Brexit. Natch. pic.twitter.com/qULauiWqop

— Michael Fabricant (@Mike_Fabricant) August 14, 2016

Naturally, people were a little sceptical of this explanation.

That's it. This is the worst tweet ever. We can all go home now. We can finally rest. https://t.co/Ze3VFVVaOF

— TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) August 15, 2016

@Michael_Heaver are you brain damaged? Mo Farah was an immigrant. If it was up to you he wouldn't be here

— Pardeep Parmar (@PardeepParmar4) August 14, 2016

@ninjamoose101 @Mike_Fabricant Just checking: you two don't *actually* think this is because of Brexit?

— Crispin (@SirMustard) August 15, 2016

@Michael_Heaver out success at the Olympics has NOTHING to do with brexit. They didn't start training only in the last month. you cock

— Something witty (@Roxy_Hart) August 14, 2016

@Michael_Heaver Yep that causation equation worked well for us in Euros soccer - do we get sportier the further we are from the referendum?

— Julia Buxton (@BuxtonJulia) August 14, 2016

@Michael_Heaver Might I add my congratulations on your contribution to the dumbest of comments on the EU question. Well done.

— (((Matt))) (@mattoidmattoid) August 14, 2016

Of course, it may actually have more to do with extra funding and the insanely hard work put in by athletes, coaches and all those whose roles support Team GB.

UK Sport, the government agency that allocates Exchequer and National Lottery money to Olympic and Paralympic sport, believes the success is no fluke.

UK Sport’s director of performance Simon Timson said:

“This is not happening by chance: this is success by design. It’s a result of 18 years of consistent, coherent, targeted National Lottery investment and the partnership we have forged with the British Olympic Association.”

As Mr Lineker put it...

Much as we put ourselves down, for a small bunch of islands we ain't too shabby at sport.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) August 14, 2016
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