NSW: Elation as Aussie Olympians come home

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-2008
NSW: Elation as Aussie Olympians come home

SYDNEY, Aug 26 AAP - The Australian Olympic team has been warmly welcomed home to much
fanfare, cheers and laughter by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and hundreds of family and friends
at Sydney Airport.

Most of the 435 Olympians, who took 46 medals between them, arrived home today to cheering
friends and the media as they entered Qantas Hangar 96 just after 8am (AEST).

Australia finished sixth in the medal tally, and won a podium position in 14 sports.

The elation on the athletes' faces was visible at the top of the stairs leading down
from the aircraft, as loved ones below cheered them and waved flags and mascots.

Triple gold medallist Stephanie Rice led her team mates onto home soil shortly after
the Qantas 747 jumbo landed, and was welcomed by Mr Rudd, who climbed the steps to the
door of the aircraft.

Mr Rudd told the athletes they were great ambassadors for the nation.

"Every Australian is proud of you," he said.

"To the mums and dads and families who have made this so possible, the nation thanks you."

Mr Rudd said every part of the country was represented in the Australian team and the
preparations for London 2012 Olympics would begin today.

Federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson said the athletes had made Australians proud.

"Right across this country over the last few weeks, every one of us in every part of
the nation has been inspired by what all of you have done," Dr Nelson said.

Opening ceremony flag-bearer, six times Olympic rower James Tomkins, said the support
the team had received from home had been "phenomenal".

"It's good to see so many friends and family here, it's absolutely fantastic," he said.

He congratulated the retiring athletes and said those staying on should "spoil the
party" for the British at the upcoming London Olympics.

"For those of us who may be going to London, start preparing," he said.

Tomkins told the crowd he was "absolutely pumped to be back in Australia".

"It's so good to see so many friend and family here, it's absolutely fantastic," he
said from the stage.

The support the team had received in Beijing from people at home had been "phenomenal", he said.

Stephanie Rice told the crowd her performance in Beijing "exceeded my expectations".

"I'm just looking forward to seeing my mum and having a holiday," she said.

Athletes were milling around, sharing laughs, hugs and tears, and enjoying their reunions.

They posed for photos with each other and with the prime minister.

Rice and pole vault gold medallist Steve Hooker were mobbed by their supporters and
besieged with requests for autographs and photos.

"It's a dream come true for me," Hooker said as he signed an autograph for 10-year-old
Justin Burt.

"Im really looking forward to getting back to Melbourne to see my family and friends
because I made a lot of sacrifices to train in Perth."

Burt said the autograph meant a lot to him.

"I just wanted to congratulate him for doing the best that he can do," Burt said.

Swimming gold medallist Libby Trickett said the flight home was a lot of fun, but there
weren't too many "shenanigans" and she got a great sleep.

"Coming back to this reception is just amazing.

"We (the women's swim team) just wanted to go out there and do our best performance
and to come away with three individual gold medallists as females, it's pretty special
to be part of that ... we can't ask for much more," she told the Seven Network.

Carrying her pillow through the crowd, gold medal breaststroker Liesel Jones said she
was extremely tired but thrilled to be back in Australia.

"Swimmers get up really early every day so it'll be really nice to stay in bed as long
as I want," she told reporters.

Sailor Nathan Willmot said he had flown first class with his fellow gold medallists
for the first time in his life.

"Everyone was taking photos of each other on the flight and it was really good fun," he said.

Equestrian silver medallist Megan Jones' sister, Emma Spencer-Gardener, said she was
extremely proud of her older sister.

"It's a very exciting time and it's her first Olympics, she's been so inspirational."

Asked how she felt to be back on her home soil, Jones told AAP, "It's pretty cool".

More than 20 friends and family of Willmot, the 470 sailing gold medallist, were holding
green and gold streamers and dressed in Olympic colours to welcome him home.

"I think he'll be a bit embarrassed to see us all, but he's been the world champion
for so long and now finally he's got gold," Nathan's cousin Amy Atkins told AAP as she
waited for the plane to arrive.

AAP krc/pbc/wjf/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: OLY08 AUST ARRIVE LEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.