Team Canada is hoping for a top 12 finish in the overall medal count at the Rio Olympics, Canadian Olympic Committee officials announced on Wednesday.
“Our athletes are ready for the fight,” said COC president Tricia Smith at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro.
Canada is fielding a team of 314 athletes this Olympics, who are competing in 37 sports. This is larger than the number who went to London in 2012 – 279.
A top 12 finish would be a modest improvement over Canada’s performance in London. At that Olympics, Canada won 18 medals (12 bronze, five silver and one gold). That put Canada in 14th place in terms of overall medals.
The top three countries at the London Olympics were the USA, China and Russia. With Russia sending a much-diminished team to Rio due to ongoing doping scandals, Canada could stand a chance of moving up the rankings.
READ MORE: Russia confident majority of its athletes to compete in Rio
Canada’s one gold medal in London was won by Rosie MacLennan, who will be carrying the flag at the Opening Ceremony in Rio.
The Opening Ceremony is Friday, although Canada’s women’s soccer team will play a preliminary game Wednesday afternoon.