'Coming home is the best feeling': Olympic team touches down after record gold haul (2024)

The Australian Olympic team has received a warm welcome after arriving home from Paris after recording its most successful Games to date.

Athletes, coaches and staff touched down at Sydney Airport about 6:50am on Wednesday with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the athletes' families at the airport to greet the triumphant Australian team.

Mr Albanese said every athlete who competed was "worth their weight in gold" and had made Australia proud, in his welcome home address.

"Before the plane took off yesterday, you had already etched your names into Australian sport history."

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Closing ceremony flag bearers Matt Wearn, who won back-to-back gold in the sailing, and quintuple Olympic gold medallist swimmer Kaylee McKeown were first off the plane.

Gold medallists onboard the flight include the Fox sisters Jess and Noémie, who won gold in canoe slalom, Ariarne Titmus, who won gold in the 400-metre freestyle, and swimmer Cameron McEvoy.

McEvoy said winning a gold medal in Paris more than made up for the near-misses of his three earlier campaigns.

The 30-year-old said the patience paid off after winning the 50-metre freestyle at the Paris games.

"It took four goes to be able to come back on home soil with this beauty [gold medal] but we got there in the end," McEvoy said.

"It's been eight years since we've had a hangar introduction back on home soil post-Olympics, so that's nice."

Boxer Harry Garside and discus thrower and bronze medallist Matthew Denny were also among the athletes who arrived home.

Moesha Johnson, who won a silver medal in the 10km open water swim, came straight off the tarmac at the Gold Coast Airport and into her parents' arms.

Johnson said she had to convince her parents to come into the fanfare inside the airport, which was "more epic than when we arrived in Sydney".

"They just kind of screamed and hugged me," she said.

"They were going to pick me up in the drop off zone and I said no I've hugged every other parent around here I want to hug you guys."

Peter and Paula Johnson said it was fantastic to see their daughter "do what we knew she could always do".

"I'm so happy for her, we can't describe it, it's been a long road and its really, really good to see the final results," they said.

"Even watching it we just had no words."

An adoring crowd greeted the Gold Coast athletes including swimming medallists Emma McKeon and Jenna Strauch this morning.

Some of the Western Australia-based Olympians arrived in Perth on Tuesday night, including gold and bronze medallists, Nina Kennedy and Charlie Senior.

The athletes were met by family, friends and WA Premier Roger Cook.

Kennedy said she began to realise what she had achieved by winning gold in the women's pole vault when she was awarded her medal.

"When I got to go back to the track, [stood] on the dais, sing the national anthem and really just get to hold the thing … it sunk in then," she said.

Boxer Senior, who claimed bronze in the men's featherweight division, said he was glad to be back in Australia.

"Coming home is the best feeling out of it all," he said.

"Walking away from Paris with a bronze medal, it's a big achievement for myself, it's a big achievement for Australian boxing so that's an unbelievable feeling."

'This is a special team'

The Australian contingent secured 18 gold medals in Paris — a record won by the country at an Olympic Games.

It beats the previous record of 17 gold medals set at the 2020 Games in Tokyo and 2004 Games in Athens.

Australian competitors also secured 19 silver medals and 16 bronze in Paris, finishing in fourth spot on the medal tally and taking the country's total to 53.

Swimmer Meg Harris, who won one gold and two silver medals in her second Games said it was "incredible" to be a part of the most successful Australian Olympics team ever.

"I did not expect the world to get around like this, seeing that support has been so incredible and I think one of the reasons we did so well is because we felt everyone lifting around us."

Fellow swimmer Lani Pallister, who won gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay, agreed.

"I don't think it's sunk in yet," she said.

"It's been so incredible being able to compete with Meg ... we did Nippers growing up together, so to have her by my side on this journey has been so special."

In departing the French capital, Australia's chef de mission Anna Meares praised the team for their record-breaking efforts.

"This is a special team," she said.

"We all know it's hard to be selected on the Australian team, let alone win a medal or become an Olympic champion. It takes dedication to excellence over years, not just here in Paris.

"So, to the member sports, thank you and to the athletes, we are very proud of you."

There are public welcome home celebrations scheduled for across the country next month.