Cyclist Gillian Carleton and open-water swimmer Richard Weinberger, with their Olympic bronze medals around their necks, burst through the arrival door at Victoria International Airport to loud cheers and clapping Monday afternoon less than 24 hours after marching in the closing ceremonies of the 2012 London Summer Games.Arriving later at the airport, among other Island Olympians, were silver-medallist eights rowers Andrew Byrnes and Doug Csima along with triathletes Paula Findlay and Brent McMahon.聯They said the [Olympic silver] medals are worth $355 each, but they聮re worth a lot more than that to us,聰 said Byrnes.If any of the returning Island Olympians were tired after the ceremony and long flight home, there was no hint of it. How could they be with a reception like this by friends, family and supporters?聯This means everything to me,聰 said Weinberger, who won his bronze medal Friday in Serpentine Lake at Hyde Park in the men聮s open-water 10K.聯No words can describe this. This [reception] makes me want to get back training in the water right now.聰 His friends Derek Doerksen and Kaela Richardson held up a sign reading: 聯Welcome Home Rich 聴 Olympic Medallist.聰聯It was surreal to see one of your best buddies on TV in the Olympics swimming to a medal,聰 said Doerksen.Weinberger said he didn聮t get to the podium alone. 聯This medal is not just about me. A lot of work was put into it by a lot of people. It聮s about everyone around me. This is my home and it聮s an awesome place to train and study. Everything I need is right here. It聮s a dream come true.聰Carleton, bronze medallist at the London Games velodrome in women聮s track team pursuit, concurred as she hugged loved ones at the airport.聯My friends and family are the reason why I ride my bike well,聰 she said. 聯It聮s as much their medal as mine.聰Numerous young cyclists, swimmers and divers were out Monday to greet the returning Olympians. 聯If this medal helps me help inspire them, that聮s great,聰 said Carleton.It also inspired her fellow Olympians who didn聮t return from London with hardware聯Being on the plane with Richard and Gillian was motivation for me to keep pushing and going hard to Rio [2016 Summer Olympics],聰 said returning diver Riley McCormick, a London Olympic finalist who placed 11th on Saturday.聯I did everything I can do to prepare myself. It聮s sometimes difficult for people to understand how hard it is to get a medal in the Summer Olympics.聰The homecoming reception blew McCormick away. 聯I really did not expect this. It聮s overwhelming. I聮m so happy and proud to be representing Canada.聰Five-year-old supporter Ella Smith asked Carleton if she will be coming home with the gold next time. 聯I聮ll do my best,聰 chuckled Carleton.Csima said it still feels like a dream. 聯I remember being on the podium and looking back at the 30,000 fans behind us and seeing the London logo and thinking to myself: 聭Did I just win a medal at the Olympics Games? Is this happening?聮 It didn聮t feel real.聰But his medal felt real enough Monday at Victoria airport.The London experience wasn聮t as happy for Findlay, whose tears in crossing the finish line 52nd in the women聮s triathlon were among the enduring images of the 2012 Summer Games.聯It was devastating and my confidence is shattered right now . . . but I believe in myself,聰 said the former world No. 1, upon arriving at the airport.聯I聮m disappointed right now but it聮s only been a week. I need to know mentally that I can get back there [Rio 2016].聰[email protected]
