Australia down under after London 2012 Olympic medal shortage

Australia's Olympic Laser sailing gold medal winner Tom Slingsby Credit: EMPICS Sport/EMPICS Sport

Australia's Olympic Association have downgraded their medal target after their swimmers, like James Magnussen, failed to win the golds they expected.

At the end of day ten of the competition, Australia was 19th on the games medals tally, with two golds, 12 silver and eight bronze.

The president of Australia's Olympic Committee John Coates told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio:

Australia has failed to do well in the swimming pool during London 2012 Credit: EMPICS Sport/EMPICS Sport

Coates blamed the failure to achieve the expected gold medal success in part on a lack of compulsory sport in schools.

New Zealand, with less than a fifth of Australia's population, currently has three gold medals.

Australia is desperate to avoid being beaten by its neighbour in the gold medal table.

New Zealand's Joseph Sullivan (right) and Nathan Cullen celebrate winning gold in the Men's Double Sculls Credit: EMPICS Sport/EMPICS Sport

On Monday, Kitty Chiller, deputy chief de mission for the Australia Olympic team said:

On Sunday, Australia swimmer Cate Campbell defended the team's performance.

She said it was "a little bit hurtful when people say we've been underperforming, because we go out there and we pour our heart and soul into every single performance."