HEROES THE HAVE LANDED
You’re an inspiration to us all, Queen tells Team GB as they return home to hugs and kisses
BRITAIN’S Olympic stars flew home to a heroes’ welcome yesterday, led by golden couple Jason and Laura Kenny.
Families, friends, fans – and even pets – mobbed members of Team GB as they arrived at Heathrow less than 24 hours after the closing ceremony in Tokyo.
The British Airways flight carried eight gold, nine silver and three bronze medallists.
The Kennys, who each won a gold and a silver in cycling, posed on board with their medals before leading their fellow athletes down the steps of the aircraft.
Jason, 33, is the first Briton to win seven Olympic golds, while Laura, 29, became Britain’s most successful female athlete by winning her fifth gold.
She said she was most excited at the prospect of seeing their three-year-old son Albie for the first time in weeks – Tokyo was her first Olympics since becoming a mother.
In an Instagram post, she said: ‘There is one little man I cannot wait to see. Albie sausage I hope you’re proud of mummy.’ Her husband said: ‘The first thing I’m going to do when I get home is probably put the kettle on.’
Boxer Lauren Price, 27, who won middleweight gold, said: ‘It’s amazing, a dream come true. To be honest it hadn’t quite sunk in yet, but I’m looking forward to going home and seeing the family.
‘I’m going to open the front door and the dog’s going to be all over me. I’m going to give my Nan a big hug because I’ve been away for six weeks… So I’m going to enjoy my time off and then back to the gym.’
Flyweight gold medallist Galal Yafai, 28, was mobbed by a large group of friends
‘Can’t wait to put the kettle on’
and family, including his brother Kal, a boxer who represented Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. They hoisted him into the air and carried him across the arrivals hall.
Joe Choong, 26, who won gold in the modern pentathlon, said as he was embraced by relatives: ‘Right now, I’m really looking forward to spending time with family... to some home cooking. Because of Covid, we had to form a bubble during training so I haven’t seen my family for so long and I’m just really looking forward to having some down time and seeing them.’
Coronavirus regulations in the Olympic village meant athletes were required to leave within 48 hours of their final event, meaning many flew home early.
Diver Tom Daley, 27, returned on Sunday night. He posed for pictures with BA staff and well-wishers, even taking off his gold medal to allow fans to inspect it.
The Queen sent a message yesterday to coincide with the main homecoming. She said: ‘I send my warmest congratulations to the competitors from Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and across the Commonwealth, following their success at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The skill, determination and hard work shown by the athletes and their support teams throughout the unique and challenging circumstances of the last year has been an inspiration to us all.’
The haul of 22 gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze medals equalled Team GB’s success in London 2012.