The president of the Australian Olympic Committee, John Coates, has said that three medals for his country at the Winter Olympics would be considered a success.

The Aussies have sent a team of 61 athletes to Russia for the Sochi Games, including four current or past world champions and three other Olympic gold medallists.

"I think last year there were around 30 medals won at World Cup or World Championship," the Sydney Morning Herald quotes him as saying. "My understanding from the experts is that there are probably eight or nine medal chances so we'll see what that translates into.

"I would be very pleased if we got the three medals we got last time, or four. But it's very hard to predict these things."

Coates has been involved in sports administration in Australia for over 30 years.