Article by Aymon Bertah and Elizabeth Pike, courtesy of the Daily Telegraph.
Our Olympic heroes have flown home to a grand reception at Sydney Airport, admitting they are looking forward to some of the everyday perks not afforded to them while competing in Paris – including their own beds, hanging out with loved ones and a cup of Aussie cafe coffee.
The athletes, proudly dressed in their green and gold tracksuits, stepped off a Qantas jet to be met with wild cheers from a mob of family and friends who had all gathered inside a special hangar as it drizzled outside yesterday morning.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Premier Chris Minns, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and even a singing chorus were on hand to welcome the Olympic stars in spectacular fashion.
ARIA award-winning singer Jessica Mauboy joined the celebration, performing her Olympic hit single “Higher”.
But, despite all the fanfare, many athletes who chatted to The Daily Telegraph said they were looking forward to everyday Aussie things they had missed most while in the pressure-cooker environment of the Paris athletes’ village.
Coming off her fourth Olympics – and the first shared with her younger sister Noemie – canoe slalom champion Jess Fox said she was looking forward to having a coffee at an Aussie cafe after months overseas, which included her pre-Games prep.
She also said she was excited to finally share her Olympic success with her close friends and family who hadn’t been able to make the trip.
Fox – who was Australia’s opening ceremony flag-bearer and won two gold medals in Paris – said the Games were a “dream Olympics”, after Noemie also won gold.
“To share that with Noemie this time around, it was the most special Games,” Jess said.
Tokyo bronze-medal boxer Harry Garside said he was looking forward to some sleep after years of training to compete on the world stage.
“It’s so good to just touch Australian soil and walk into this (welcome),” he said. “(It’s) great to be back home.”
Garside, 27, said he was still feeling “very numb” after he made an early exit in the first round of the men’s lightweight division in Paris.
“I think it will be like that for a bit of time now,” he said.
“I’m just excited to get back home around people that I love and you can really be yourself around.”
Garside has been open online about his mental health challenges over the past few years, including in the immediate aftermath of his loss to Hungarian Richard Kovacs in Paris.
“I think when I’m there (at home) I’ll feel comfortable to be myself and process some emotions if they need to come up and I’m ready for that,” he said.
Garside said his boxing future was unknown, but he was keen to “get home and get some sleep”.
The sentiment was echoed by Australia’s most decorated Olympian of all time, swim star Emma McKeon, who said she was “excited to get back to my own bed”.
However, the competitive flame was still burning for two-time gold medallist Keegan Palmer after he defended his title in the men’s park skateboarding.
He flew to Melbourne straight after touching down in Sydney to prepare for an upcoming event in the US.
“Back on the road, come on,” Palmer said. “I won the last three contests in a row so let’s keep it going.”
Despite winning gold in the BMX, Saya Sakakibara was blown away after having a “beautiful night sleep” on the Qantas charter flight.
“It was a long flight but the rumours are true – all the medallists get business class,” Sakakibara said.
She told the Telegraph it was “amazing” to be able to share the medal with her brother, Kai, who suffered a life-changing injury in 2020 after crashing at a World Cup event. Kai was in the crowd yesterday and said despite his nerves watching his sister in Paris, he was looking forward to now having “an Olympic gold medallist in the family”.
