The medals have been handed out, the flags raised and lowered for the last time, and in Britain the newspapers have indulged in a frenzy of praise after Team GB came second in the medals table, behind the United States but crucially, ahead of China.

That triggered a wave of disbelief on Chinese social media, with one netizen asking "Are you kidding?" on hearing the news that China had slipped behind the United Kingdom on the medals table.

Immediately, in both China and the UK, the focus has been on how the British did it, and what is the secret of the team's success in gaining 27 golds, 23 silvers and 17 bronzes, beating China into third place with 26 golds, 18 silvers, and 26 bronzes.