Crowds thronged Dublin Airport’s arrivals area for Sharlene Mawdsley and Sophie Becker, who returned home through Terminal 2 last night.
Banners, bunting and draped tricolours decorated the arrivals hall as elated and emotional family and friends welcomed the returning athletes.
Waiting for their arrival was Phili p Becker, Sophie’s father, who said he could “hardly put it into words” how “excited” and “proud” he is of his daughter.
“It is just so deserving for all the years she chipped away at it and all the races she went to in Ireland and abroad,” he told the Irish Independent.
“It’s lovely to see all the fans behind her and the team – this is something special.”
The tears were flowing minutes later amid a Becker embrace. Sophie held her family tight ahead of celebrations in her home in Wexford.
The 27-year-old, who walked through the arrivals gate with her silver medal around her neck, said stepping onto home soil was emotional.
“As soon as I stepped through and saw my family I started welling up because in Rome we were in a bubble,” she said. “As we kept saying, it is the thing of dreams. But actually, now to come home and share with all our loved ones who have been through thick and thin, it just makes the whole thing real.”
From Ballykelly, Co Wexford, Becker shared a special moment with nine-year-old fan Elsie-May from Rush in Dublin.
Before the athletes arrived, Elsie-May said she was “inspired” by them and couldn’t wait to meet her heroes and tell them “well done”.
After holding Becker’s silver medal, little Elsie-May, awestruck, couldn’t believe how heavy it was.
Becker added: “I never really thought of myself as a role model up until the last few weeks, but this is amazing, particularly for young girls.
“I was really inspired by strong females growing up but even young boys coming up for my autograph, that is really important and means a lot.”
Rhasidat Adeleke, Becker, Phil Healy, and Mawdsley made history at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, on day six of the championships.
They clocked 3:22.71 in the final, smashing the national record of 3:24.38, while narrowly losing out to the reigning world champions of the Netherlands.
Mawdsley, who ran five races in six days, also wore the gold medal she won for the mixed relay race.
Despite the outstanding performance, she told the Irish Independent that relay racing is all very new to the group.
She said: “We all have so much trust for each other and the love we have for each other is second to none.
“So I think we really have that team element every time we step out on the track.
“When we are racing individually it is just you against them, but the second we step out there as a team it is just magic.”
As well as their record-breaking relay achievement, their teammate Adeleke clinched a silver in the 400m sprint final.
Co Down’s Ciara Mageean also took home gold in the 1500m final.
