“We hope you have all enjoyed the experience as much as we have back home”, they added.
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Gold medallists Max Whitlock and Nicola Adams were first to emerge from the gold-nosed Being 747 which carried 320 athletes and support staff, plus equipment including bikes, javelins, sails and medals back home.
Lily, a University of Birmingham sport, exercise and rehabilitation student, tweeted a joyous picture of gold medallists aboard the plane and the message: “Get your medals out. champers and the national anthem blasted out. we’re going back to our fave nation!”
The Olympians took selfies, waved to well-wishers and proudly brandished their gold, bronze and silver medals.
Athletes were treated to a share of 77 bottles of champagne and a three-course menu on route to returning to British shores where they were given a heroes reception by hundreds of adoring fans and assembled press.
The Queen has offered her “warmest congratulations” to Team GB on their “outstanding performance” in Rio.
The stars were greeted by cheers, applause and screams, with many supporters rushing to embrace their loved ones after weeks spent thousands of miles apart.
Other possibilities for honours could include the Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonny, who finished as the top two in the men’s triathlon; goalkeeper Maddie Hinch, who was pivotal in the women’s hockey success; golfer Justin Rose, who became the sport’s first Olympic champion for more than a century; and Liam Heath, who won gold to become Britain’s most successful canoeist. Britain’s struggling gymnasts received just £1.8m ahead of the Beijing games, but beat their medal target in 2012 and were given a budget of £14.6m in 2013.
“I can’t wait to get back home”.
But support networks for British athletes have been improving.
Hockey gold medal victor Sam Quek said she hoped they had inspired other generations to pick up a stick. They were the people thanked by numerous athletes moments after their triumph: the doctors and physiotherapists, and the coaches who often looked far more anguished at the side of track or pool than the athletes.
There will be a victory parade in Manchester, and a celebration event in London in the autumn.
The seating plan caused little disruption though, with Team GB athletes all smiles as they departed in Rio, and the method has been seen as another incentive for athletes planning to compete in Tokyo in four years’ time to push even harder in order to gain similar recognition among their teammates.
The team’s performances drew praise from the Royal Family.
Someone who did not need to be inspired by the achievements of 2012 was rower Katherine Grainger, who took her first Olympic gold four years ago.
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The Queen’s message follows that of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, who declared the athletes had “made the entire country proud”.
