Britain finished 15th overall with only three medals, a silver and two bronzes - well below the minimum target of five they had been set. 

The poor performance has put in jeopardy the amount of funding the sport receives from Government agency UK Sport, who in its last round of funding in 2009 awarded it more than £25 million ($39 million/€32 million) for the next four years.

Scott has turned to Craig Hunter, a member of British Swimming's board and the Chef de Mission for Britain's team at the upcoming Paralympics, to help try to establish what went wrong. 

"Following our collective disappointment at not meeting our high expectations at these Olympic Games, we will be undertaking a thorough performance de-brief," said Scott, who was appointed in 2007 and in April was given a new contract to take him through to Rio 2016. 

"I have met with British Swimming chief executive David Sparkes to begin this process so we don't lose momentum as we implement the strategy for Rio.

"In the Olympic cycle to London the British swimming team has achieved best ever results at world, Commonwealth and European level but in London we failed to continue this trend and we need to fully understand why."

Michael Jamieson's silver was one of only three medals won by Britain's swimmers at London 2012

The only Britons to stand on the podium were Michael Jamieson, who won a silver in the 200 metres breaststroke, and Rebecca Adlington (pictured top), a double Olympic champion in Beijing but who in London had to settle for bronze in the 400m and 800m freestyle. 

"I will lead a performance de-brief team that will include a member of the British Swimming board with vast experience of international and Olympic competition, Craig Hunter, as well as two independent appointments of high standing and regard to look at both our pool performance and our marathon swimming efforts," said Scott.

"No appointments have yet been made but dialogue to fill these positions has begun.

"In order that we can continue to improve as a swimming nation this will be done quickly but thoroughly with a view to completing by the end of October."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected] 


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