Public image is boosted by European medal haul

Britain won a total of 19 medals in Barcelona – six gold, seven silver and six bronze – eclipsing the previous best of 18 achieved in Split in 1990, although that did include nine golds. But Van Commenee believes the manner of the performances in the Olympic Stadium was equally important as athletics attempts to regain its popularity and standing with the viewing public.

Asked if the public would have a different view of the team after Barcelona, the 52-year-old Dutchman said: "I hope so. I think we have a much higher degree of accountability.

"I think people take responsibility for not only victory but also failure. We do have too big a number of injured athletes but we decided they should stay at home and not be here to make up the numbers and have an excuse afterwards, saying I had a niggle or whatever.

"I think it's one of my duties to raise the image of the sport. The image is very important for the longer future. It is more than only winning and losing.

"You can win in an ugly way, but it's not nice. So we do it in a proper way. You may finish fourth sometimes or second but as long as we learn and do better the next time that's fine. I think the athletes understand and a lot of people see a different team, a different sport than a few years ago. I'm proud of that."

Last year Van Commenee famously banned athletes from making excuses by talking about pains and injuries, using some colourful language to describe how outsiders would view such complainers.

And the message seems to have got through, with very few athletes offering injury as an excuse for a poor performance.

"I know there are a few who had a good reason not to be at their best but it wasn't mentioned and that's good," Van Commenee added. "I know and the medical staff know, but if it's really life-threatening you're not in the blocks anyway."