PHOTOS: Canada’s Olympians return home to warm receptions
Canada's Olympians returned home this week following extended stays in Rio for the Games and there were plenty of warm receptions upon arrival.
Many of Canada’s Olympians returned home this week following an extended stay in Rio for the 2016 Olympics. The Rio Games concluded on Sunday with the closing ceremony and athletes began departing in the following days.
It’s about a 10.5-hour direct flight to Toronto from Rio. Others, like Melissa Bishop, flew overseas to continue racing. The 28-year-old 800m runner raced at the Diamond League in Lausanne, Switzerland just days after finishing fourth in Rio.
RELATED: Where did Canada’s Olympians fly to? See this interactive map of hometowns.
Here are some warm welcomes that Canada’s athletics team received upon arrival which were then posted to social media.
Noelle Montcalm – Windsor, Ont. (400m hurdles)
It's a party @YQG_Airport for local Olympian @noellemontcalm. She landed about 10mins ago. #cklw pic.twitter.com/auFwcO6r2P
— Rob Hindi (@rhindi800) August 24, 2016
Nate Brannen – Avon Lake, Ohio (1,500m)
Avon Lake's @natebrannen makes triumphant return from Rio https://t.co/SilWAN4yOd pic.twitter.com/wqIZJldPU0
— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) August 25, 2016
Damian Warner – London, Ont. (Decathlon)
Olympic hero @DamianWarner returns home https://t.co/Rkhhy5w2z3 pic.twitter.com/fgZr2Ap7Pi
— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) August 25, 2016
Andre De Grasse – Toronto (Men’s 100m, 200m and 4x100m)
Krista DuChene – Brantford, Ont. (Marathon)
Home. ❤️@Jduchene02 pic.twitter.com/M542Dhoz8F
— Krista DuChene (@kristaduchene) August 24, 2016
And while some athletes got warm welcomes upon their returns to Canada, others got pleasant surprises on the plane ride back home. Air Canada, an official sponsor of Canada’s Olympic team, treated some athletes to upgrades on their lengthy trip back from Rio.
Lanni Marchant – London, Ont. (10,000m and marathon)
Thank you @AirCanada for helping get me to and fro w your awesome crew #homewardbound now post #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/tHsylmt5JD
— Lanni marchant (@LJM5252) August 26, 2016
Inaki Gomez – Vancouver (Race walk)
Thx @AirCanada 4 business class upgrade 4 me & my wife in our last flight home from #Rio2016 #TakingCareOfAthletes pic.twitter.com/WtZWA8mhqG
— Inaki Gomez (@InakiGomezG) August 27, 2016
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