The Coedpoeth rower's comments about his nationality after winning gold as part of the coxless fours have been used by the Australian Daily Telegraph to back up the argument that their country's sportsmen actually finished above "the Poms" in the final medal table.

It follows a British national tabloid's campaign to rub in the fact that Britain, with 19 golds, finished ahead of Australia, with 14, by driving around mobile billboards bearing the slogan 'Where the B***** Hell Were You?'

However, the Australian Daily Telegraph has pointed out that English sportsmen were only responsible for 14 golds, with five coming from Scottish and Welsh athletes - and have highlighted Tom's comments, as it claims, as proof he is a proud Welshman before a Great Briton.

Speaking after winning in the coxless fours, Tom said: I'm a patriotic Welshman – born in Cardiff and living near Wrexham – and it's brilliant to put Wales on the map at the Olympics.

"I don't think Wales won any golds in Athens, so it's brilliant to represent my home nation here and make it a second Welsh gold after Nicole's (Nicole Cooke's) brilliant ride.

"It's great to be flying the Welsh flag on the world stage. My Dad's born and bred in Wrexham and is Welsh through and through and so am I."

The Australian Daily Telegraph say this is proof that Team GB is nothing but an artificial construct.

Reporter John Rolfe writes: "While 'Team GB', as it is known, managed 19 gold medals at the Games, compared to Australia's 14, six of Team GB's golds were actually won by Welsh and Scottish athletes.

"So the true result of the head-to-head tussle between Australia and England is: Australia 14 England 13.

"So our mobile billboards read: 'Where The B***** Hell Were We? Above You on The Medal Tally.'"

The newspaper has also vowed to take its campaign to the British Consulate to find out, in its words "why it is that England needs to become Great Britain in order to compete against the undisputed world champs of sport - Australia."