FLYING HIGH!

OLYMPIC STARS COME BACK TO HEROES’ WELCOME Big crowds greet Rio record-breakers after epic trip home

TEAM GB’s triumphant Olympians arrived at Heathrow singing the national anthem as their gold-nosed British Airways jet touched down on home soil.

The champagne flowed and excited athletes took selfies on board the BA2016 flight.

Double gold-medallist Max Whitlock even tried out some of his gymnastics routines on the first-class seats. He and champion boxer Nicola Adams were the first two stars to emerge from the plane and stood at the top of the stairs as the rest of the athletes filed out to cheers and applause.

Many took selfies with their Team GB colleagues on the tarmac, continuing a theme that had applied throughout the journey.

The sportsmen and women used social media to share pictures of themselves enjoying a party atmosphere as they celebrated becoming the first nation to better a home medal count at the following Olympics.

Some posed for pictures in the cockpit, with rower Helen Glover swapping her gold medal for a pilot’s hat in one photo.

Kayak gold medal winner Joe Clarke tweeted a selfie from the top of the plane stairs with the caption: “What a reception! We’re home ... Bringing home the great @TeamGB #selfieonthesteps”.

Famous

Triathlon golden boy Alistair Brownlee did the same, with the caption: “So #goodtobBAck. What a welcome”.

Gold medal rower Matt Langridge tweeted: “Think there might be someone famous on my flight, we have a welcome party #GreattobeBAck”.

The athletes headed to Heathrow terminal five arrivals after sorting out luggage.

Friends, family and well-wishers waited to welcome the Olympic heroes – adorned with union flags, welcome banners and red, white and blue balloons.

The stars were greeted by cheers, applause and screams.

And children crouched in front of the barriers clutching small British flags, desperate to glimpse the sporting stars and hoping for an autograph.