Another Look Back At The Spectacular Celebrations In Manchester and London For Our Olympic And Paralympic Heroes After The Rio Olympics in 2016 (Photo – Kadeena Cox At The Homecoming Parade)

How wonderful it was to see our Olympic and Paralympic Heroes again recently at the Heroes Return Parades in both Manchester and

 London

 In two superbly organised events, our Olympic and Paralympic Heroes and Heroines were able to meet their adoring crowd, who had come together in their thousands (despite the rain) to congratulate them for their fantastic achievements in Rio.

The Proud Crowd in Manchester

 Happy people with smiling faces waved flags, and this was perhaps the first opportunity for our Champions to smile and look their fans in the eye, (who until now, have waited up well into the night to get a glimpse of them and their sporting achievements, perhaps even venturing into work the next day a little bleary eyed), so this, a perfect opportunity to show mutual respect and thanks.

400 Athletes showed off their medals to the crowd, and took it in turns to relay their inspirations and tips on how to get into sport, and moreover, how to ‘become the best’.  Dame Sarah Storey said that if you have a particular interest, then go and join a club, and learn how to pursue the event that you are interested in. Sarah said that for children, it’s best to try as many sports as you can, discover what you’re good at and then work as hard as you possibly can.

Dame Sarah Storey and Kadeena Cox Wave To the Crowd

Max Whitlock said that the support which the Heroes had received was phenomenal, and is so important, and thanked the crowd, who promptly went into raptures. But he stressed that the most important thing to him was that he had hoped to ‘inspire a generation’, and after hearing about the amount of people who have now taken up gymnastics, he felt very proud, and wanted to make sure that it continues.

Max Whitlock Shows Off His Skills To The Crowd

The hope of ‘inspiring a generation’ was repeated many, many times by all the athletes and was the overwhelming message which resounded from all of the interviews.

Kate Richardson-Walsh, Captain of the Women’s Hockey Team, added another message when interviewed, brushing aside comments that the gold medal which her team had won in Hockey was a defining moment for women’s team sport, she said that all of the performances from the Olympians and Paralympians were fantastic, and she encouraged all women and young girls to work hard and achieve their dreams, saying “anything can happen”.

Ellie Simmonds said “I’m very competitive.  We are a great team, and we’re proud to be British.  I’m really lucky, you’ve just got to go out there and have fun”.

Ellie also thanked the crowd for their support, saying “I’m shocked by all the people that have come out today and supported us – thank you!”

Ellie Simmonds Waves To The Crowd

Jessica Ennis-Hill said “We can’t thank you enough for the support you’ve given us over so many years, and for you all to turn out today in this weather is wonderful – thanks so much”.

Jessica Ennis-Hill

In addition to the thousands of people who had come out to support our Champions, Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, also went to Manchester, and paid tribute to our Heroes in a heartfelt speech, thanking them for their amazing achievements, and for bringing the Country together, saying “You are an Inspiration to us all”.

And after two days of revelry, ‘thank-you’s’ and jubilation, the icing on the cake….

Off to Buckingham Palace our Heroes go to meet The Queen, and The Duke of Edinburgh

The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge & Prince Harry

It’s been a Spectacular Summer of Sport.  There are so many wonderful memories of each and every one of our athletes, whether they have won medals or not. As long as you “tried your very best”, then that’s all that anyone can ask.

Well Done – You Have Inspired A Generation, And The Next Generation!

Words by Amanda Waters