The shift away from athletics in team GB

Below is an analysis of team GB's performance at olypmpic games since 1980.

The figures appaear to show a decline in performance in athletic events, both in terms of medals won and star names taking part. However during the same period there has been a substantial improvement in overall olypmic performance, in sports other than athletics.

Listed below, are the various games, with the athletics medal haul (gold, silver, bronze), and the list of "household names" taking part in the athletics events.

1980
4,2,4

Allan Wells, Steve Ovett, Seb Coe, Brendan Foster, Brian Hooper,
Geoff Capes, Daley Thompson, Tessa Sanderson , Fatima Whitbread (9)

1984
3,6,6

David Moorcroft, Daley Thompson, Zola Budd, Tessa Sanderson, Fatima Whitbread, Seb Coe, Steve Cram (7)

1988
0,6,2

Linford Christie, John Regis, Peter Elliot, Steve Cram, Kris Akabussi, Daley Thompson, Fatima Whitbread, Tessa Sanderson (8)

1992
2,0,4

Linford Christie, John Regis, Roger Black, Duiane Ladejo, Jonathon Edwards, Steve Backley, Liz Mccolgan, Sally Gunnell (8)

1996
0,4,2

Steve Backley, Roger Black, Jonathon Edwards, Iwan Thomas, Dwain Ladejo, Sally Gunnel, Denis Lewis, Liz Mccolgan (8)

2000
2,2,2

Colin Jackson, Iwan Thomas, Steve Backley, Kelly Holmes, Paula Radcliffe, Denise Lewis (6)

2004
3,0,2

Kelly Holmes, Paula Radcliffe, Steve Backley (3)

2008
1,2,1

(0)


So in summary, the following figures are year, gold, medals, 'star names'

1980 4,(10),9
1984 3,(15),7
1988 0,(8),8
1992 2,(6),8
1996 0,(6),8
2000 2,(6),6
2004 3,(5),3
2008 1,(4),0


This appears to show a general decline during this period, both in atheltics results and in the number of star names britain has at the Games.

Conversly, however, looking at all sports across the board, GB's performance has improved dramatically during the last few olympic games, including a record haul of medals in 2008 :

1980 5(21)
1984 5(37)
1988 5(24)
1992 5(20)
1996 1(15)
2000 11(28)
2004 9(30)
2008 19 (47)


This appears to show a shift in focus in british olympic sport away from athletics. Bearing in mind that athletics is tradionally regard as the blue ribband sport at the games, is the loss in competitiveness in athletics a price worth paying for the improvement in other sports ?