‘Australia was behind me’: Australia’s Olympians and Paralympians welcomed home

Australia’s Olympians and Paralympians have received an ecstatic welcome home in the first public event for the combined Paris Games athletes. Crowds gathered just a stone’s throw from Sydney Harbour on Friday for the free event. Athletes gave interviews, signed autographs and told some of their inspiring stories. Grae Morris became Australia’s first silver medallist in wind surfing. Morris, 20, said “it was all just a lot of fun” in the lead-up to his finals run. He said Australia’s support helped him through. “I definitely felt it. I couldn’t hear it from Australia, but I could hear it from my mum and my dad,” Morris said. “I went past the rock wall where everyone gets to sit and watch us and I had my whole family, friends as well, screaming and cheering, and just from them being there, I knew that the rest of Australia was behind me.” Water polo captain Zoe Arancini won a silver medal with her teammates and said “to be able to play for Australia at the highest level and just do your best, I think that’s probably the one thing I take away from sport”. “For the kids here, have a go … that’s how it starts, having a go. “Sport isn’t just about winning. Sport teaches you so much. It teaches you to overcome tough obstacles or challenges. You make some really great friendships. It teaches you to work with other people together for a common goal.” The silver medal-winning water polo Stingers sparked huge cheers holding their medals up for the crowd to see. Boccia player Daniel Michel won bronze in Tokyo – our first medal in boccia since 1996 – and backed it up with silver in Paris. “For me, on an individual level, super special,” Michel said. “I think the crowds in Rio were awesome, Tokyo was different, being the Covid Games, but in Paris to have the crowd support again and people getting behind boccia was super special,” the Paralympic champ said. “We don’t usually play in front of many people, so to have the audience there getting involved was amazing.” Fellow boccia medallist Jamieson Leeson said growing up she never had the chance to play sport because of her disability. “My first dream and goal was to make the Paris Paralympic Games. To go there was just as big of a success as to come home with the silver medal,” Leeson said. “The whole Australian Paralympic team, who is now my family, we got to celebrate the highs and lows together. “I think just to be a part of that and to play a part in the success of Australia and to make history was very special.” NSW Premier Chris Minns said the athletes had inspired kids across the country. “More kids at the end of the day will put down their mobile phones and go outside and play with their mates,” he said. “And maybe some of them will represent their country as well, so thanks to everybody for giving us a Games that we will never forget.” “Just by being there, every single athlete stood at the absolute pinnacle of sport, and you will always be an Olympian and Paralympian for as long as you live. “And gold is a great thing, but it’s not the whole game. Having the courage to take the field, to stand in the arena, giving it everything, that’s what really matters in the end.” The respective Olympic and Paralympic teams had previously received separate, private welcome home events at an airport hangar in Sydney, stepping off planes to be greeted by family, dignitaries and media. The Olympic team of 460 athletes landed in Sydney on August 14. The Olympic squad won 53 medals in 33 sports, finishing fourth in the medal tally – Japan won fewer medals but two more golds to finish third. The Paralympians arrived home on Wednesday. The smallest Paralympic contingent in 20 years – 160 athletes – finished ninth in the standings, winning 63 medals. “Every single one of these athletes has done us proud,” Anthony Albanese told the arriving Olympians last month. “Today, there are girls and boys around our nation dreaming of wearing the green and gold at Brisbane 2032 because of you,” the Prime Minister said again to Paralympians in Sydney when they arrived home this week. “You have done your country proud.”