London 2012: The Countdown Series: Great Britain, Part 1

48 days to go until the first day of the London Olympics. And so it is, the end of the parade of nations with the host country-Great Britain (GBR)!

Like other western nations, Great Britain has participated in these summer games since the first modern-day Olympics of 1896. British athletes have brought home 746 medals over every summer Olympics they have participated in, including 216 gold medals.

In part one, this will be devoted to the multiple gold medalists from the UK.

Steve Redgrave (pictured) has five gold medals, most individual gold medals of any British athlete in the summer games. The rower first won gold at Los Angeles 1984 in the coxed fours (rowing) event. He also won the coxless pairs (rowing) at Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996. He would top it off with a gold as a member of the coxless fours (rowing) team at Sydney 2000.

Four Brits have four gold medals each. The first was swimmer Henry Taylor, when he won three of the four gold medals at London 1908, including the 400m and 1500m freestyle (swimming). Another swimmer, Paul Radmilovic, was a part of the 4x200m relay (swimming) that won at London 1908 along with Taylor. Radmilovic won three other gold medals as a part of the British water polo team.

Rower Matthew Pinsent won twice in the coxless pairs (rowing) at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996, and twice in the coxless fours (rowing) at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.

Sir Chris Hoy (pictured above) won four gold medals. The track cyclist won his first gold in the 1000m time trial (cycling) at Athens 2004, and would win three at Beijing 2008, in the sprint, Keirin and team sprint (cycling).

Sailer Ben Anslie is among these six that won three gold medals each for Great Britain:

• Reggie Doherty (tennis)
• John Jarvis (swimming & water polo)
• Jack Beresford Jr. (rowing)
• Richard Meade (equestrianism)
• Ben Ainslie (sailing)
• Bradley Wiggins (cycling)

Dame Rebecca Adlington (pictured), who broke Janet Evans' record in the 800m freestyle (swimming) at Beijing 2008, and Sebastian Coe (now a politician) are among 39 Brits that have won two individual gold medals in the summer Olympics.

In part two, more of the individual performances in the summer games for Great Britain, including those notables with one Olympic gold.