Team GB guru Mark England hails Olympic heroes as we close in on biggest medal haul for 108 years in ‘best Games ever’

THE proud head of Team GB last night declared the Rio Olympics were Britain’s “best Games ever”.

Mark England hailed our stars’ “Herculean” efforts.

It came as we closed in on our biggest medal haul for 108 years.

Mark said the challenging conditions in Brazil — and having nearly 200 fewer athletes than four years ago — made Team GB’s achievements even better than those at London 2012.

He branded Britain a “powerhouse of world sport” as our medal machines looked set to match our haul of 65 four years ago.

They were even battling to go one further and record our biggest score since the 1908 Olympics.

Last night the medal tally stood at 66 with reigning champ Mo Farah winning the 5,000m in Rio.

Amazingly, we were still holding off sporting giant China in the race to finish second behind the USA.

Chef de mission Mark said: “I have no doubt this is our greatest ever Games.

“To do what our athletes have done in challenging conditions is just extraordinary.

"It’s been a huge privilege to watch them compete.

“It’s been quite humbling for a lot of us and an emotional journey too.

"This is a bigger achievement than London, without question.

"The medals total is fantastic.

“We have every chance of surpassing that 2012 total but to do it on foreign soil finishing second, is a greater achievement.

“The collective team effort has been outstanding, we have had so many firsts, so many greatest ever performances.”

The Sun is demanding that our Olympic superstars be made dames and knights to honour their success at the Games — which draw to a close tonight.

The 2020 Olympics will be in Japan.

Mark concluded: “We are in that powerhouse bracket now and going into Tokyo will be really tough, but we are confident.”