3 minute read
Australia's Paralympians and Olympians have been welcomed home in the best way possible, soaking up the sun and the glory at a reception in Sydney.
Australia's golden Olympians and Paralympians shone brightly as they met with supporters in Sydney, proudly displaying their medals while inspiring the next generation of Olympic champions.
After 24 hours of wild, wet, and windy weather Sydney's Tumbalong Park pulled out all the stops for a picturesque spring day, with more than 30 athletes and para-athletes welcomed home.
Thousands of fans, family and friends turned out in the sunshine at the reception to cheer as the Olympians and Paralympians reflected on their Paris accomplishments.
Hundreds of school children lined a picket white fence as athletes went through the crowd, shaking hands, signing shirts and taking selfies.
At only 15, Ruby Trew is one of the youngest Olympians from the Paris Games.
She competed in the women's park skateboarding alongside fellow teenager Arisa Trew (no relation), who won gold in the event at only 14-years-old.
Walking along the fence while cheered by young fans, some her own age, Trew told AAP it was an amazing experience.
"I'm a schoolgirl as well and to see all these people who are my own age, it's just so amazing," she said.
"Australia are going to be the best country at sport in the world."
It was not just Trew having a 'pinch me' moment, with Olympic silver medallist Grae Morris shocked at the level of support received in Paris and at home.
"Seeing this crowd and the amount of people that get behind us while we're competing and then coming home, it's something else" he told AAP.
"When it comes to sport and culture, Australia is the best country in the world for it."
Morris, who won Australia's first medal in men's windsurfing, said he was already looking to Los Angeles 2028, and had eyes on Brisbane 2032.
"The goal is to dominate and win gold," he said.
"I'm very happy with silver, but it motivates me even more to win, and so I am jumping straight for 2028."
First-time Paralympic silver medallist but long-time world number one Boccia player, Daniel Michel, told AAP the support for the Paralympics this year had been "amazing".
"It's important that we are all here, and hopefully we get some more Boccia players," he said.
Silver-medallist Morris said he hoped the relationship between Paralympians and Olympians would grow stronger in the lead-up to Brisbane.
"If the Paralympics and the Olympics could be combined, we could really see what they can do and that would be amazing," he said.
Australia won 53 medals - 18 gold, 19 silver and 16 bronze. On the score of gold medals, it was the country's most successful Olympics of all time.
Across 11 days of competition Australia's 160 para-athletes led their country to a top 10 finish on the medal table, with 18 gold, 17 silver and 28 bronze for 63 medals in total.
