Australia backs away from top-five medals goal at Rio

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian sport has moved to dampen expectations of a big medal haul at the Rio Olympics by admitting that the goal to finish in the top-five on the table was more "aspirational" than likely.

Australia slumped to 10th in the medal standings at the 2012 London Games, the country's worst Olympic haul in 20 years, sparking criticism back home of under-performing athletes and wasted taxpayer money.