Qantas Welcome Home 2024 Olympic Team

By Grahame Hutchison on Wednesday, 14th August 2024

The Australian Paris 2024 Olympic Team arrived home this morning, onboard a special Qantas Charter flight from Paris via Perth. Qantas Hangar 96 was the "Welcome Home" venue, where family, friends and the media were assembled, awaiting the arrival of their aircraft. After Qantas B787-9 Dreamliner VH-ZNH touched down on Runway 34L, it taxied directly to Hangar 96, where it was shutdown, and then towed inside the hangar. The Athletes stepped off the aircraft to be reunited with Family, Friends, and Media. Following the formalities, everyone mingled with the Athletes in an informal but exciting setting.

Australia had its most successful Games, winning a record 18 gold medals, 19 silver, and 16 bronze, across 13 sports over the more than two-week event in Paris. It was an incredible feat from the contingent of 467 athletes, finishing fourth overall in the world, with the United States topping the medal tally on 40 gold, tied with China, with first place decided by the number of silvers, and then Japan in third place.

Qantas Boeing B787-9 VH-ZNH had "Go Australia" Olympic Decals applied for this special Olympic Charter Flight

Qantas Boeing B787-9 VH-ZNH being towed into Hangar 96 after arriving from Paris via Perth

Qantas Boeing B787-9 VH-ZNH can fit completely within Hangar 96, with the hangar doors closed.

The Hangar 96 doors were closed in preparation for the Athletes to leave the aircraft.

All the Athletes left the aircraft via the rear port side door. The Australian Girl's Choir sang the iconic Peter Allen song "I Still Call Australia Home" as they disembarked

Lights, Camera, Action for Boeing B787-9 VH-ZNH with that lovely "Go Australia" title

While waiting for the Olympic Team aircraft to arrive, Family and Friends were treated to breakfast and coffee in Hangar 96

The Australian Girls Choir "Qantas Choir" gathered for a group photograph before proceedings began

Matt Wearn with his Gold Medal from the Men's Dinghy, and he was the first man to win a Gold Medal in successive Olympics in the men's dinghy. Matt was a Flag Bearer at the Closing Ceremony, alongside Kaylee McKeown, and was first off the aircraft when they opened the rear door on arrival

Noemie Fox was so excited about her Gold Medal win in the Kayak Cross, while being interviewed by Sunrise

Emma McKeon with Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medal from Paris. The 30-year-old triple Olympian from Rio, Tokyo and Paris, swam her final retirement laps in the butterfly leg of the Medley Relay – The Silver Medal taking her overall medal tally to 14 (six gold, three silver and five bronze) – the most by any Australian Athlete in the history of the Games

Jess Fox with her two Gold Medals from the C-1 and K-1 Slalom Events - What an outstanding achievement. Jess Fox and Eddie Ockenden were the Australian Flagbearers at the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony. Jess Fox has also been elected to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Athletes’ Commission, what an honour

Kaylee McKeown with two Gold, a Silver, and two Bronze Medals from swimming events, including the 100m Backstroke, 200m Backstroke, 4x100m Medley Relay, 200m Individual Medley, and the Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay

Emma McKeon with Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals from the 4x100m Freestyle Relay, 4x100m Medley Relay, and Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay

Lani Pallister with her Gold Medal from the Women's 4x200m Freestyle Relay

Looking for the Family in a packed Qantas Hangar 96

William Yang with a Silver Medal from the Men's 4x100m Freestyle Relay

Arisa Trew with a Gold Medal from the Park Skateboarding at only 14 years of age - An amazing result

Jamie Perkins wearing Mollie O'Callaghan's Gold Medal - Molly presented her best friend Jamie with her Gold Medal, after winning the 4x200m Freestyle Relay

A beaming smile for the Today Reporter

Zac Incerti with a Bronze Medal from the Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay

Caitlin Parker with her Bronze Medal from the 75kg Boxing

Sharing a photograph with fellow Olympians

Emma McKeon with Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals from the 4x100m Freestyle Relay, 4x100m Medley Relay, and Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay

Ariarne Titmus "Arnie" with two Gold, and two Silver Medals from the 400m Freestyle, the 4x200m Freestyle Relay, the 200m Freestyle, and the 800m Freestyle

Arnie being interviewed by Sunrise

Jess Fox being interviewed by Today

Noemie Fox being interviewed by Today

Jess and Noemie Fox sharing a selfie with a fan

Noemie Fox so proud of her Slalom KX-1 Gold Medal

Emma McKeon with Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals from the 4x100m Freestyle Relay, 4x100m Medley Relay, and Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay

The Qantas Crew from today's Olympic Flight (F/O Owen Zupp) - Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner VH-ZNH carrying the "Go Australia" titles

A traditional dance performance to introduce the Official Welcome To Country

The Qantas Choir performing the National Anthem

Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson welcomes the Olympic Team home

Governor General Sam Mostyn welcomes the Olympic Team home

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomes the Olympic Team home

"As the athletes went down the stairs there, not everyone had a medal around their neck but every single one of them was worth their weight in gold. Every single one of them has done our country proud. A record number of gold medals, our best overseas number of medals ever, our most successful Olympic team ever. But it was a success that wasn't just counted in medals. A success is counted in how you carried yourselves as athletes and as representatives of Australia. I want to thank you for what you've done for Australia in the last fortnight. I particularly want to acknowledge the legacy that you will leave".

The Official Welcoming Party - CEO of the Australian Olympic Committee Matt Carroll, Governor General Sam Mostyn, Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Olympians Jess Fox, Kaylee McKeown, Matt Wearn, and Chef de Mission Anna Mears (with her two children)