Crowds salute Olympic and Paralympic heroes

manchester: Fans brave the rain for parade of stars on floats

Great Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic heroes braved a Manchester downpour to toast their record-breaking Rio Games with 200,000 fans.

Around 350 members of Team GB and Paralympics GB took part in a parade of floats through the city centre, flanked on all sides by supporters whose enthusiasm shone through despite heavy rainfall.

Athletes waved, danced and celebrated as they were cheered from the streets, with a proliferation of ponchos the only concession made to inclement conditions.

Both the Olympic and Paralympic teams completed an unprecedented improvement on the medal tallies achieved on home soil four years ago, claiming 67 and 147 podium finishes respectively.

But there was a shared sense of surprise and joy as the competitors took in their reception.

Alistair Brownlee, who claimed triathlon gold in London and Rio, said: “It’s been fantastic to see this support, we spend so much time away that you don’t always get a sense of what we have at home.

“I saw so many people at the side of the road with so much enthusiasm – the cheering, the signs – it was really spectacular.”

Jade Jones, who defended her women’s 57kg taekwondo title in Brazil, missed the parade after London 2012 and was amazed by the turnout.

“It’s lashing down, but there’s old people, babies, everyone has come out to support us,” she said.

Some fortunate fans managed to persuade their heroes to stop for selfies or autographs as they exited the floats.

Pictures: PA. Rio silver medal-winning rower Katherine Grainger.

Jessica Ennis-Hill waves to fans.

Kadeena Cox and Sarah Storey.

Alistair and Jonny Brownlee.