Canada finished 19th in the overall medals table in Beijing with 18 medals, consisting of three gold, nine silver and six bronze, an acceptable return after a poor start to the Games led to an outcry back home.

 

It was the country's best performance at a non-boycotted Games and an important step on the way to achieving their goal of finishing among the top 12 countries in 2012.

 

The Canadian Olympic Committee's chief operating officer Chris Rudge now thinks that the organisation should re-evaluate its goals for London.

 

He said: "We may have to sit down with our partners and reassess whether we want to go for the top-10.

 

"As you drive yourself forward, you always have to be reassessing your goals and what you're capable of doing.

 

"We're a G-8 nation.

 

"There's no reason why we shouldn't be looking at the top-eight of the world.

 

"Give us the tools, and I think we'll get there."

 

Former Olympic gold medallist swimmer Alex Baumann is heading up a new scheme, the Road To Excellence (RTE), which is aimed at achieving the top-12 goal.

 

Canada has committed to spending a record C$166 million (£85.6 million) on summer and winter sport in 2008-2009, but there will be a lot of pressure on that figure to help fund athletes preparing for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

 

But after conversations in Beijing with his equivalents from Australia, Britain and New Zealand, Baumann says top 12 in London is not realistic at the current rate of funding for the Canadian team.

 

Baumann said: "The challenge for RTE is to maintain our position.

 

"I do think Canada can get to the top 12 in 2012, but it's going to take a big effort.

 

"I do think there is a need for more investment.

 

"It's not cheap."