Britain's heroes arrive home

Olympic heroes arrive back in Britain

Hundreds of friends and relatives have greeted Great Britain's Olympians on their triumphant return from Sydney after the best British performance in 80 years.

Record-breaking rower Steve Redgrave, who now five gold medals to his credit, contrasted the home-coming to Heathrow with the one four years ago when British athletes returned from the US with a disappointing collection of medals.

He told reporters: "It is a fantastic feeling. It was a really subdued atmosphere four years ago in Atlanta."

A grand total of 28 medals were won in Sydney of which 11 were gold - Great Britain's best haul of gold medals since the Antwerp Games in 1920.

Perhaps the most memorable moment of the Games came on the Penrith Lakes where Marlow's Steve Redgrave picked up his fifth gold medal in as many Olympics - making him the greatest British Olympian of all time.

Redgrave, who is still undecided over his own future in the sport, was adamant that there was no luck involved in Great Britain's achievements in Australia.

'Hard work'

"There's no secret as to why the British team has been successful," said Redgrave.

Harrison was delighted with his performance

"There's been a lot of hard work and professionalism. The work started not after Atlanta but after Barcelona."

"I had a little while after Atlanta before I decided what direction I was going to take," added the rower.

"Who knows how long it will take for me to decide what step I will take next."

His friend, rowing partner and fellow coxless four gold medallist Matthew Pinsent was as astounded as everybody else in the camp over the nation's success.

And like Redgrave, the three-time Olympic gold medal winner was unsure as regards to what the future holds for him and whether Team GB could repeat the heroics they performed at Sydney, in 2004.

"Part of the appeal of the Olympics is that if you are successful it will last a lifetime - some of us have been lucky to win," said Pinsent.

'Looking forward'

"I'm sad to be leaving Sydney but I am glad to be going home.

Who knows how long it will take for me to decide what step I will take next

  Steve Redgrave

"I thought we'd just get to the level we did in Barcelona by winning five - everybody in the camp was just amazed with all the success.

"Frankly I don't know if I'll be back in Athens and I don't think we'll do as well as we did in Sydney - all I'm looking forward to now is going home and having a cup of tea."

Britain's hero in the boxing arena, Audley Harrison, was already planning his future as a professional fighter.

"I'm looking forward to going back it's been a tremendous Olympics," said Harrison, who was carrying a hand injury during his final fight.

'Sleep'

"They say no pain no gain and it was a bit touch and go because I was going through a bit of a mental crisis."

"My future probably lies in the professional game - but I'll be right at the bottom of the mountain once I turn professional.

"To me its always been about achieving in the ring. It's been 32 years since Britain has won a boxing gold. I knew I could do it, boxing needed a gold medallist. It's people like myself who can produce the goods and the people got behind me.

"I'm just really enjoying this moment as a member of the British Olympic team - so many athletes have performed well, " added Harrison.

Modern pentathlon champion Stephanie Cook was still in shock after coming from eighth place to win the gold in the final discipline of the event.

"It still hasn¿t sunk in and I still can't believe it," said Cook.

"I don¿t know when it is going to sink in - maybe after I get back home and get some sleep."