Triumphant return for Olympic stars

Gold medal winners Chris Hoy and Rebecca Adlington at Heathrow Airport

Triple gold medalist Chris Hoy leaves the plane at Heathrow Airport

Team GB medallists pose as they arrive at Heathrow Airport

25 August 2008 05:00pm

Britain's Olympic stars have arrived back in the UK to a heroes welcome.

Medal winners from Team GB lined up on the steps of a specially decorated jumbo jet to pose for photographers after arriving at London's Heathrow Airport.

Team GB finished fourth on the medal table notching up 19 gold medals, 13 silver and 15 bronze - making the Beijing Olympics the UK's most successful Olympics for 100 years.

The team's plane fitted with a special gold nose cone touched down shortly after 3pm on Monday.

Gold medal winners Chris Hoy and Rebecca Adlington were among the athletes to soak up the applause as they were met by a small crowd of onlookers, a pack of media and large police security team. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham and Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell waited discreetly by the terminal building and greeted each athlete individually as they made their way into the airport building.

Hoy described the reception awaiting Team GB as "incredible". The three times gold medalist told the BBC: "We have all been so looking forward to coming home and it is amazing, just fantastic.

"You live in a bubble in the village and really have no idea what is happening at home - it is only when you land and arrive here that you see how many people have turned up. It is just incredible - the nation has got behind us, it is fantastic."

Asked how "Sir Chris Hoy" sounded - a reference to the possibility of a forthcoming knighthood - the cyclist said: "That is ridiculous to be honest."

Adlington, who is also tipped for an honour, added: "Both me and Chris came out here to just try our best to get a medal. Anything else that comes our way is an added bonus."

Lord Coe, one of the first off the aircraft following the 10-hour flight, told the BBC: "Team GB have provided us with just the most extraordinary platform, one we could not possibly imagine before we came here. It's the opportunity to drive the project for us, but take nothing from any of those guys who've performed, I think, way beyond what I think any of us were expecting."