Olympic swimming great Ariarne Titmus has shared an “absolutely beautiful” moment with dad Steve and mum Robyn after returning home to Australia on Tuesday.
Dozens of Olympians landed at Sydney Airport to a throng of family, friends and supporters.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Emotions spill over in Ariarne Titmus reunion.
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While Titmus is among those who still need to jump another flight to get back to their own beds, family members like her parents were on hand for the celebrations.
Fellow swimmer Elijah Winnington’s parents similarly flew to Sydney just to be there, with the dual medallist spotting his mum “bawling her eyes out”.
Titmus was away for two months in total and spent time with her parents in Paris but the emotions spilled over while standing together in Australia once again.
“It feels nice. It’s been two months away, which is a long time. It feels good to be on home soil,” she told Sunrise’s Matt Shirvington.
“I saw mum and dad away — but it’s not really the same as when you’re home and you feel like you can just settle and relax.”
Steve said “it’s an emotional day, to have Arnie back it’s just…” before trailing off as he choked up, hugging his daughter and kissing her on the head.
The moment hit home for Matt Doran, filling in for Shirvo at the Sunrise desk.
“Absolutely beautiful. People we idolise became humanised — it was just a dad and a daughter. The emotion of that hug was actually so beautiful,” Doran said.
Robyn, taking over as Shirvo let dad and daughter enjoy the moment, was overjoyed at the reception for Australia’s Olympians.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s our daughter or other people’s kids,” she said.
“As a country we just love when our kids dedicate themselves to something and go over the other side of the world and show them how it’s done.
“A little old country down in the bottom of the world with a population of 26 million and look where we came on the medal tally. It was just fabulous.
“These kids, they’re our kids, they’re our babies. We’ve seen them grow up and to reach this level is just amazing.”
Titmus, who won 400m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle gold and 200m and 800m freestyle silver, said she was in a state of “bliss” upon landing.
“The monkey’s off my back, the weight’s off my shoulders. My mind’s a little bit numb,” she said.
“You’re not sure what to feel because you’re always got such a target and a goal in your head and it’s nice to actually feel quite clear-minded.
“I’m going to enjoy this as much as I can and soak it up and not think about swimming for a long time.”
Titmus sensationally revealed in Paris that she would step away from swimming for up to 12 months.
And she was arguably even more circumspect about her Los Angeles 2028 prospects when talking to Shirvo.
“We’ll see. I would love to get to three Olympic, going to try and defend my title in 400m freestyle for a third time would be a massive feat,” Titmus said.
“But it’s very hard to comprehend at the moment. I just want to enjoy this as much as I can, these moments don’t come around often so I think I’ll regret it if I don’t really absorb this as much as I can.”
Shirvo spoke to several more athletes inside the hangar.
Canoe slalom champion Noemie Fox celebrated the homecoming as a “full circle emotional moment” after attending other ceremonies in the past.
“It’s mine, it’s my first Olympics, it’s my first Olympic gold, it’s just surreal, it’s incredible. Soaking up every moment,” she said.
Her sister Jess and dad Richard were quickly roped in, with Jess overwhelmed by the reception and Richard having lost his voice.
Discus bronze medallist Matt Denny revealed he will enjoy just a couple of weeks at home before heading back to Europe to compete again.
Arisa Trew, who became Australia’s youngest medallist in history when she won skateboard gold, is excited to return to school tomorrow with the medal around her neck.
But the celebrations will have to wait.
Asked about the first thing she wants to do now that she is home, Trew laughed: “Have a shower.”