Surpassed by most of its larger and smaller European neighbors, Britain is heading for its worst Olympics in 40 years.
And the head of Britain's Olympic Association says lack of government funding could be the cause.The headline across the back page of Wednesday's Evening Standard said it all, "Why are we so useless?"
Britain had only one gold medal through Tuesday - Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent won in rowing's coxless pairs - while France had 13, Italy 11 and Germany 10. Even much smaller countries have done better - Ireland and Switzerland had won three each and Belgium two.
Overall, the nine medals (three silver and five bronze along with the gold) is the lowest total since Britons won 11 overall in 1952 in Helsinki, Finland. They won 20 four years ago in Barcelona and 24 in Seoul in 1988.
Worst yet, Britain is likely to return home without a gold in track and field - the showpiece of the Olympics.
Britain hit the depths on the track when defending Olympic 100-meter champion Linford Christie made two false starts in the final, was disqualified and then protested and refused to leave the track.
Long-time rival Carl Lewis ripped him.
"I thought it was disappointing," said Lewis, who won the long-jump gold. "It wasn't typical of the character I believed Linford had."
"If I fouled three times in the long jump, I wouldn't ask them to give me a fourth jump. That's the way it is," Lewis said.
A promised meeting after the Olympics between British Sports Minister Iain Sproat and Dick Palmer, head of the British Olympic Association, is being labeled as an "inquest."
"I knew Atlanta was going to be tough," said Palmer, speaking from Atlanta. "But this has been very disappointing and frustrating.
"Other countries focus on their elite athletes. We do not," he added. "Unless the government provides more cash for the top coaches to work with our sportsmen and women, we will continue to fall further behind."
Palmer also spoke directly to Prime Minister John Major.
"I have a message for John Major but think these Games have told him what it is. We need money," Palmer said.
Palmer said about $620 million were available to finance sports, but he called the financing structure haphazard.