The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
VillAge shows off its pride for OlympiAn Louis
Team GB touchdown after incredible performance in Rio
Peterborough’s silver medallists Louis Smith and Nick Dempsey were among Great Britain’s triumphant Olympians who touched down at Heathrow on Tuesday following the most successful Games in more than a century. And it did not take long for gymnast Louis to realise the amount of support there was for him following his exploits in Rio, withabannerinthevillage where he lives proclaim- ing: “Congratulations Louis. Helpston is proud of you!”
There was also time for a picture with Dorothy Astle who was visiting Helpston when she bumped into its famous resident.
She said: “I’ve always admired Louis Smith and his incredible efforts putting UK gymnastics onthemap. It was great to meetsuchacharming man andpersonallycongratulate him on that success.”
Windsurfer Nick, who attended Orton Longueville School, also appeared to be relaxed back on British soil.
HepostedaphotoonTwitter showing scores of identical red bags on the ground at Heathrow with the message: “Mine’s the red one!!”.
Louis, who grew up in Eye, could also not resist a Twitter picture.
Having touched down on the gold-nosed British Airways Boeing 747, which had “victoRIOus” emblazoned on the side, he tweeted a photo of himself with the message: “Homeeeeeee#greattobeBAck @British_Airways thank you for such an amazing flight back safe and sound.”
Louis won silver on the pommel horse - his fourth Olympics medal - while Nick is nowthemostdecoratedmen’s Olympic windsurfer with his silver in the Olympic RS:X.