The British team produced their best Olympic performance in a century by taking 19 gold, 13 silver and 15 bronze medals - a total of 47 that placed them fourth in the final table.
Clegg said: "It gives us a level of confidence. We love the underdog, the Brits, but when you drill down deep into the psyche of the individual -we want to be winners."
Clegg said the team were very moved by their reception from well-wishers at Heathrow airport and added: "I don't think we could have contributed in any other way to exciting the nation about us becoming the next hosts of the Olympic Games in 2012.
"The whole country has woken up to the fact it's us next and it is going to be a hell of a show in London in 2012."
British medal winners, who gathered at the news conference at a Heathrow hotel, clearly felt the success in Beijing would inspire athletes for the home Games in four years' time.
Tim Brabants, who won gold in the 1,000 metre kayak single, said: "All of us will be back in training in a month's time, back to the real world and the hard graft.
"But it is only going to help to spur the rest of the team on to keep training through the next four years up until the London
Olympics."
Ben Ainslie, who won a third yachting gold in as many Games with victory in the Finn class, said the wave of public enthusiasm generated by Britain's success was "perfect timing".
"It is so timely we were able to get this result now and do so well and get the nation really behind the Games," said Ainslie.
"In my experience that will make the difference between London being a great Games or not - how the British public will react to it.
"You saw in Sydney how the Australians got behind the (2000) Games and you saw a fantastic home performance by their team and again in China. It is great to get home to such a reception and now the next four years' hard work starts now," added Ainslie.
Rebecca Adlington, who became the first British woman to win Olympic swimming gold since Anita Lonsbrough in 1960, was also upbeat about Britain's prospects in 2012.
Adlington, who won the 400 and 800 freestyle, said: "From what I've seen there is so much money and facilities and great coaching and support staff coming into Britain and helping us out, I don't see how it can get worse.
"I just see it as getting better. It is going to be absolutely fantastic. It is going to be an amazing opportunity."
Reuters
08-27-2008, 09:02 PM
Beijing 2008 - London 2012 to be "hell of a show
hello .www.nfljerseymlb.com
Linear Mode
