Assuming Australia's athletes can overcome a lack of flushing toilets, Sports Illustrated has predicted they are on track to enjoy a wildly successful Olympic Games that would see them finish third on the overall Rio medal count.Paper Games and the real thing tend to be different beasts but if Australia's Olympians deliver on what the American magazine's analysts believe is possible, Australia would win 20 gold medals in Brazil, a number that would surpass the previous best of 17 gold medals from the 2004 Games in Athens.That would form part of a total medal tally of 49, nine behind the mark set at the Sydney Games in 2000.The predictions, which are broken down into individual events, would see the USA top the medal tally with 45 gold, 31 silver and 39 bronze, ahead of China (45, 25, 15) and Australia (20, 21, 8). Russia is assumed to have competed in every event bar athletics.Predictably, Australia's swimmers are tipped to collect the lion's share of the loot, with SI suggesting the Dolphins can end the eight-day Olympic meet with 21 medals (11 gold, nine silver, one bronze) compared to the US with nine gold, eight silver and 13 bronze.Sprint star Cate Campbell could lead the way and if, as predicted, she salutes in the 100m-50m freestyle double, the 4x100m freestyle relay and the 4x100m medley relay, she would become the first Australian to win four gold medals at a single Games.Backstroker Emily Seebohm has been tipped to win three golds (100m-200m backstroke, 4x100m medley) while Mack Horton and the women's 4x100m relay team are predicted to make it double-gold for Australia on the first night of competition.Great expectations: Cate Campbell. 
 Photo: Getty ImagesFlagbearer Anna Meares has been tipped by SI to win another Olympic gold in the keirin as part of four gold medals for Australia's track cyclists. The rowers have been predicted to see the top of the podium on three occasions, as have the men's hockey team and the women's rugby sevens.List of predicted gold medallists in Rio from the Sports Illustrated previewMatthew Glaetzer (cycling) Men's sprintTeam pursuit (cycling)Anna Meares (cycling) KeirinCaroline Buchanan (cycling) BMXMen's hockeyMen's quadruple sculls (rowing)Kim Brennan (rowing) Women's single scullsWomen's quadruple sculls (rowing)Women's rugbyKey player: Ellia Green will be part of the women's rugby team tipped for gold. Photo: Mark KolbeCameron McEvoy (swimming) 100m freestyleMack Horton (swimming) 400m freestyleMitch Larkin (swimming) 100m backstrokeMitch Larkin (swimming) 200m backstrokeCate Campbell (swimming) 50m freestyleCate Campbell (swimming) 100m freestyleEmily Seebohm (swimming) 100m backstrokeEmily Seebohm (swimming) 200m backstrokeMaddie Groves (swimming) 200m butterflyWomen's 4x100m freestyle (swimming)Women's 4x100m medley (swimming)