Australia defy post-Olympic blues

Australia defied their own bleak predictions of a post-Olympic letdown by winning a record number of gold medals in Athens to finish fourth on the medals table.

Australia defied their own bleak predictions of a post-Olympic letdown by winning a record number of gold medals in Athens to finish fourth on the medals table.

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Australian Olympic officials had warned the public before the start of the Athens Games not to expect a repeat of Australia's performance in Sydney where they won a record 16 golds.

But the team surprised everyone including themselves by winning 17 golds in Greece, the most by any Australian team at a single Olympics, and finishing fourth on the medals table behind the United States, China and Russia.

"Our overall mission was to be in the top five countries and it has been accomplished," Australian team boss John Coates told a news conference on Sunday.

"The team has exceeded the gold medal tally of Sydney and the trend that has afflicted most nations after they've hosted the Olympic Games has been bucked."

Australia finished third on the medals table when Melbourne hosted the Olympics in 1956 and actually won more overall medals in Sydney but Coates said the performance of the team in Athens was better.

"This is clearly the most successful Olympic team ever to represent our country," he said.

"When you consider we were competing away from home and all the pressure this team was under, then this was definitely a better performance."

Australia won medals in 14 different sports in Athens with the golds spread over six sports.

Australia's swimmers scooped seven golds with Ian Thorpe adding two to his three from Sydney four years ago to become the first Australian to win five Olympic gold medals.

Jodie Henry and Petria Thomas, chosen to carry the flag at the closing ceremony, both won three golds each in the pool, including two in relays with Henry also breaking the world record for 100 metres freestyle.

Australia's cyclists were the big improvers in Athens. After failing to win a single gold in Sydney, they struck six times in Greece with Ryan Bayley the standout performer after winning the individual sprint and the keiren.

Chantelle Newbery won gold in diving, Suzanne Balogh triumphed in shooting, Ginn Drew and James Tomkins teamed up to win the pairs in rowing and Australia's men won the hockey title after so many near-misses in the past.

"Importantly, we were winners early and that set the tone for the rest of the team," Coates said. "Success breeds success and everyone suddenly got that feeling.

"This is the best team we've ever had and as far as the Olympics go, it's a golden era for Australian sport."