AUSTRALIA will win a record 18 gold medals and finish fourth on the medal tally at the Rio Olympics, according to the latest predictions of an internationally respected sports data research organisation. 
And should the Russians be barred from competing in the athletics meeting after last year's drug scandal, Australia could leapfrog them into third place.
US-owned company Gracepoint, a leading provider of entertainment and sports data to major corporations and sporting organisations including the Australian Institute of Sport, has Australia below only the US, China and Russia on its most recent "Virtual Medal Table", with a predicted total medal count of 41 that includes 13 silver and 10 bronze.
Australia's record gold medal haul is the 17 won in Athens in 2004. The predicted 18 gold medals come mainly from swimming, with eight, then two each to rowing and sailing and one each to track cycling, BMX cycling, slalom canoe, shooting, men's hockey and women's rugby sevens.
In the pool world champ-ions Mitch Larkin and Emily Seebohm are tipped to win two gold medals each in the 200m and 100m backstroke, with individual golds going to Cameron McEvoy and Cate Campbell in the men's and women's 100m freestyle, and Bronte Campbell in the 50m freestyle. The women's 4x100m freestyle relay is also favoured for gold.
The other athletes tipped for gold are Jessica Fox (slalom canoe), Caroline Buchanan (BMX), Men's Four and Kim Brennan (rowing), Warren Potent (shooting), Tom Burton and the pairing of Matt Belcher and Will Ryan (sailing), and cycling's men's team pursuit. Australia's only projected medal in track and field at present is a silver to walker Jared Tallent, though defending 100m hurdles champion Sally Pearson - now ranked twelfth in her event by Gracepoint analysts - is expected to move into contention as she improves after injury .