Heathrow homecoming

The Coxless fours - a very popular arrival

By Sport Online's Sanjeev Shetty

It's 5am at Heathrow on a Tuesday morning, and there's barely a dry eye in the house.

Dozens of ordinary folk have rustled themselves out of bed to welcome home our Olympic heroes. Some family, some not, but all with a common bond. And all with that bleary eyed look that only a 3am start can create.

At this time, the assorted press horde significantly outnumbers the welcoming party, but that will change. The photographers have already jostled for position outside the gates which will open at approximately 6.30.

It's all in aid of being part of history. To see Audley, Denise, Jonathan and Stephanie.

And perhaps even more importantly, Steve Redgrave.

It is a sobering fact that Redgrave's own personal career haul of gold medals is nearly half that won by British athletes in Sydney.

Britain and Mrs Redgrave are wondering about 2004

Britain's most decorated Olympian is returning with his family but it seems the rest of the Redgrave clan are at Heathrow for the homecoming. Either that or fully paid up members of the comedy oar club.

But what about the others here - those with no connection to the athletes arriving apart from having witnessed their exploits on TV, radio and the internet?

Take Ann Davis from Esher, Surrey. What possessed her to get up at this preposterous hour to wave a flag around?

"I had to, didn't I! If I couldn't be over there with them and lend my support, this was the least I could do," she explains.

Sentiment

Which is a sentiment echoed by Janet Spears, who had journeyed down from Milton Keynes.

"They've obviously worked so hard to get there - I want to see all of them, not just the medallists, but those who didn't win anything. I know it sounds like a dreadful cliche, but they are all heroes to me."

For the press, though, gold is what it is about. Iwan Thomas, the 400m runner who would have stood a decent chance of a medal but for a year hampered by injury, is one of the first to come through. Initially swamped, he passes through the arrivals lounge unharrassed once Audley Harrison is spotted.

Except this is not Britain's first boxing gold medallist in 32 years.

It's actually a tall, bulky black man with tiny dreadlocks who looks slightly bemused until he realises that the press have got it wrong. Shaking his head in amazement and amusement, he turns away.

The real Audley Harrison

The real thing arrives seconds later, along with Denise Lewis and Stephanie Cook. The first two sprint through, perhaps conscious of the fact that their celebrity can be enhanced better in the cold light of day.

But the latter, unknown to the general public until the final day of the Olympics is happy to sign autographs and talk to the lucky members of the media that can corner her.

And finally the rowers. Each arrival of anyone bearing resemblance to an athlete has drawn a roar from the assembled masses - but nothing compares to that when the oarsmen arrive.

There is a huge cheer when Ann Redgrave appears, hinting that her husband is just seconds away.

Bedlam

Within seconds, it is absolute bedlam as the man commonly acclaimed as Britain's greatest Olympian arrives.

Given that he has spent the last 24 hours on a packed plane and the whole of the last 10 days celebrating, he looks very well. And happy.

The media have occasionally pictured Redgrave as taciturn and difficult, but not today.

But he actually is not the star of the show. That slot goes to triple gold medallist Matthew Pinsent.

Immediately playing for the crowd, holding up his arms and producing a massive bottle of champagne, the rower looks as if he is born for these sort of moments.

After all, he did work for four years to enjoy it - it would be rude not to.