Britain has produced a phenomenal display at its home Olympics to finish in third place on the medals table behind top-placed United States and runners-up China and, somewhat surprisingly, ahead of fourth-placed Russia.

Team GB secured 65 medals – 29 gold, 17 silver and 19 bronze – meaning it had comfortably surpassed its total of 47 from Beijing 2008 and smashed the target of at least 48 set by UK Sport.

But while praising the current crop of athletes, Moynihan (pictured top) admitted he is still hoping for an even better performance in Rio in 2016.

"The aspiration is always to push on and do better," he said.

"If you're an athlete, if you're a team, the aspiration is always to do better, no question at all in my mind.

"But looking at these Games, the team has excelled.

"It has provided unforgettable images, it has provided performances which have created history.

Cyclists Laura Trott and Sir Chris Hoy are two of the five Team GB athletes to twice strike gold at London 2012

"It's been a team that has worked together, it's been united, it's been focused and it's had performance at its heart.

"I only wish you could bottle the power of confidence because the power of confidence has raised performances unquestionably across the team.

"Many silvers have become golds because of the influence that has been instilled by a hugely supportive public and that has led to historic results for the greatest team ever."

Andy Hunt, the BOA chief executive and Team GB Chef de Mission, echoed Moynihan's praise for the British athletes.

"I truly believe this has been our greatest performance, our greatest team, at what probably will be considered the greatest Olympic Games in history," he said.

"We now need to... make sure that the athletes become inspirational role models, getting opportunities, and maximising their own success and the impact they can have on the nation.

"That's why they are in their sport.

"They want to see it succeed."

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