Cheers for Paralympians

By Lucy Wilkins
BBC News, Heathrow

Cheers and applause rang out at Heathrow as a triumphant British Paralympic team arrived home from the Beijing Games.

Greeted with flags and camera flashes, the team collectively bought back 102 medals, including 42 golds, finishing second in the medals table behind the host nation.

Porters were on hand to help with the luggage trolleys laden with bulky sporting equipment, leaving the athletes free to be embraced in the welcoming arms of family and friends.

Gold medallist Helene Raynsford, dressed in the now familiar uniform of white and blue tracksuit, said the welcoming reception began as soon as she came off the plane.

BA and airport staff had lined the corridor, clapping the team through to the brightness of the arrivals hall at Terminal 5.

"This is absolutely fantastic, the cheering is fantastic," she said.

"You feel like you're in a kind of bubble at the Paralympics, so you don't realise how much support there is out there."

The crowds were much bigger than those of four years ago, when 2008 bronze medallist Anthony Stephens returned from Athens with a clutch of medals.

Asked if he would be celebrating on his first night back, the swimmer said: "I've been partying for the last three nights, so I'm looking forward to a sleep, but my friends have probably got something planned."

He and his team mates will be back in their Swansea pool in the next couple of days "for a paddle", before serious training resumes in a couple of weeks.

Like many of the athletes, Stephens is looking forward to the London 2012 games.

"I'll hopefully be there, but I've just got to recover from these ones first," said the confident 22-year-old.

"I've said I won't retire till I win gold, so I'll keep going."

Among the waiting crowd was proud Peter Bushell, father to 18-year-old Mickey, a silver medallist in athletics.

"I'm still in shock, it hasn't sunk in yet. He went for the experience and took advantage of the opportunity and pushed his heart out."

He spoke to his son after his final, and had to reassure him that he did not mind that Mickey had missed out on the gold by a fraction of a second.

"He was six years younger than the guys he was racing against."

After a quiet party in their hometown of Telford, it will be back to training.

"He wants to win gold in 2012," said a beaming Mr Bushell.

While the homecoming crowds were a boost to the athletes after the long-haul flight, those who travelled to China to see events first-hand were appreciated too.

Rachel Morris, gold medallist in cycling, said the union flags flying in Beijing had made a real difference.

"In my event there was a grandstand of about 10,000, which was three-quarters full, but with a pocket of Britons - who amazingly managed to get themselves heard," she said.

And it wasn't just athletes who returned to the UK after the ten days of competition, but also the accompanying support staff.

Waiting at Heathrow was Stephanie Kelly from the Lilleshall National Sports Centre, who was there to welcome colleagues from the archery performance unit. The archery team brought back two golds, a silver and a bronze - "we knew they could do it," she said.

Cyclist David Stone, wearing the gold medals he won in the mixed individual road race and the individual time trial, said the welcome was "really amazing".

The athlete is already looking ahead to 2012. "I'll be in my prime by then," he said.

The satisfaction of the athletes in their physical achievements was evident, with Stone best summing it up by saying he would be back cycling the next day - "because I love it".