Rio brought the curtain down on South America’s first-ever Olympics at an upbeat closing ceremony at Maracana Stadium on Sunday, ending a Summer Games headlined by sprinter Usain Bolt and swimmer Michael Phelps but enriched by so many more athletes from further down the food chain.
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Between them, the British sportsmen and women were carrying 67 medals.
British athlete Asha Philip tweeted a video of Team GB singing God Save The Queen.
Athletes were flown home in style on a gold-nosed British Airways plane.
Speaking at a press conference, athletes and staff talked to the media about the Games, national pride and athletic funding.
There were single golds in taekwondo, hockey, golf, tennis, swimming, boxing and triathlon but perhaps the most eye-catching performances came in gymnastics, where Max Whitlock won two golds and the country seven medals in all having never previously stood atop the podium.
The flight will also be loaded with 77 extra champagne bottles and treats for team members, who will be offered a three-course menu.
Mark England, Team GB chef de mission, said: “The reception we have got since landing is overwhelming”.
Sam Quek and Laura Unsworth of Great Britain dress up as cabin crew during the Team GB flight back from Rio.
While it is true that cycling, rowing, sailing, equestrian and canoeing have continued to provide the bulk of the golds, the joke no longer holds water as Britain have won in Rio across 15 sports, more than any other nation.
As a number of countries bemoan the lack of medals at the recently completed Rio Olympics, spare a thought for the Chinese athletes who were ridiculed by state media as the “worst Olympic flop”.
Friends, family and general well-wishers waited to welcome home the Olympic heroes, adorned with union flags, welcome banners and red, white and blue balloons.
The aircraft was named “victoRIOus” by public vote, the shortlisted name was originally put forward by the athletes and British Airways staff.
Team GB’s historic success at the Games saw their biggest medal haul in a century with 27 golds, 23 silvers and 17 bronzes.
“I send my best wishes to all those who contributed to this remarkable achievement”.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry said the team was an “inspiration to us all, young and old”.
Among the breakout stars of the 2016 Games in Brazil were three-times gold medallist Jason Kenny, who matched Sir Chris Hoy’s record six golds with his efforts in the velodrome.
All 27 of Team GB’s gold medal winners were allocated a place in first-class as reward for their success, although many had already left Rio after their success came in the first week of competition.
Remarkably that tally surpasses the 65 with 29 gold from the home Games of four years ago and is topped only by the London Games of 1908 when they won 146, 56 of them gold – totals inflated somewhat by many events where barely anyone else took part.
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Britain has declared itself a “sporting superpower” as Prime Minister Theresa May pledged unlimited knighthoods and other gongs to medallists and coaches who helped pave the road with gold at the Rio Olympics.
