Rio Olympics 2016: British MP under fire for cringeworthy tweet

Now that's what I call winning! Photo / Twitter

Someone needs to remind Heather Wheeler it's 2016 and those days are gone.

The Conservative MP sparked outrage on social media on Tuesday when she tweeted that the "Empire goes for gold" in a crudely Photoshopped graphic that claims Britain's "empire" scored 396 gold medals at the Rio Olympics compared to 320 for the rest of the world and 258 for the post-Brexit EU.

Now that's what I call winning!!! Well done Team GB & all our Commonwealth friends, now for the Trade Agreements.... pic.twitter.com/Qg9qkYxWHp

— Heather Wheeler MP (@HeatherWheeler) August 22, 2016

Unsurprisingly, the South Derbyshire local member was ridiculed online for her claim. Some politely asked if she had any figures for the Roman or Spanish empires and said it was a "disappointing showing by the Third Reich in the end".

Disappointing showing by the Third Reich in the end.

— Jon Simmons (@Simmo1981) August 22, 2016

Those 13 colonies (not to mention many others on your map) fought hard to get away, might not be that impressed

— James Mackintosh (@jmackin2) August 22, 2016

have you visited Planet Earth recently?

— Jonathan Eley (@JonathanEley) August 22, 2016

I’m afraid I have some very sad news for you. Queen Victoria is dead. I hope you have support around you.

— Polly (@Paper_Polly) August 22, 2016

The MP, who campaigned for Brexit in the recent referendum said her tweet was "tongue in cheek" and meant to congratulate the British team and others from the Commonwealth.

The USA topped the medal table with 46 golds and 121 medals in total, while Great Britain and Northern Ireland came in second place with 27 golds and 67 medals.