Olympic and Paralympic athletes Grace Brimelow, Nick Sloman, Jamie Perkins and more welcomed home to Sunshine Coast
Some of the Sunshine Coast’s top Olympians and Paralympians were treated to a hero’s welcome on Tuesday as hundreds of fans gathered to show their support. See the full photo gallery and what the athletes had to say.
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Hundreds piled into Foundation Square park on Tuesday to celebrate and welcome home our Sunshine Coast Olympic and Paralympic athletes from the 2023 Paris Games.
Twelve athletes were in attendance as gold medal heroes Jamie Perkins, Ryley Batt and Callum Simpson headlined the list of superstars.
School-aged athlete Grace Brimelow, who competed in the PTS4 Triathlon, couldn’t wipe the smile from her face.
“It was an amazing experience filled with so many incredible moments,” she said.
The Sunshine Coast Grammar School student was unfortunately disqualified for an error on the bike leg, but at just 17-years-old said she had a fire in her belly for future Games.
“My main takeaway was not everything is always going to go your way,” she said.
“Something will always go wrong whether that’s an extra lap or mixing up a transition zone, something will try to trip you up.
“Celebrating here today makes me feel very special and privileged to be here with all these supporters and share my experience with the community.
“I returned to school last week and was made to feel very special and I still can’t believe it all.”
Former St Teresa’s Catholic College student and marathon swimmer Nick Sloman echoed Brimelow’s sentiments.
“It’s special to have everyone here today,” he said.
“Some of us have been home for a little while now but it’s cool to see the support and excitement everywhere you look. still alive.”
Sloman, who was competing at his first ever Olympic Games, finished 11th in the 10km event.
“Honestly I’m a little bit disappointed in my finish but at the same time it’s still such a great result and any time you represent your country it’s such a privilege,” he said.
“Going into the race it was different for everyone I think.
“I had never raced in the Seine and everyone was trying their hardest to train for that but it was very difficult to do so.”
Sloman said despite a $2.3 billion river clean-up he was more focused on the race.
“Everyone was talking about how bad the water quality would be leading in and there were mixed tests coming into it all but after we got the clearance to jump in and have a swim a few days out it helped everyone a lot.
“The race itself was incredible, definitely the toughest race I’ve ever done but the atmosphere was electric.
“Even when you’re heads in the water the fans were so close and so loud the entire time so it was something I’ll never forget.”
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