The Russian athletes who returned from Tokyo after the closure of the Olympic Games were given a truly magnificent meeting.

Perhaps, domestic athletes have never been met this way.

The IOC tried to do its best to give fans the opportunity to thank the team, which in Japan took the third place in the number of medals won.

On Monday afternoon, the board with members of the national team landed at Vnukovo airport, where dozens of journalists were already waiting for him.

However, the main celebrations were to take place on Red Square.

There people began to gather a couple of hours before the start of the event.

At the same time, the organizers managed to arrange a holiday even from the athletes' road to the center of the capital.

They took an example from team sports and organized a kind of open-top champion buses.

Also, all the athletes were given bouquets of hydrangeas: pink - for women, blue - for men.

They should remember this trip forever.

The participants of the Olympic Games who returned to their homeland waved their hands to random passers-by, demonstrated their medals and sang songs, including "Katyusha".

The cars passing by, however, made their approval beeps.

The further, the more people became.

The whole city seemed to come out to greet the team, despite the weekday and the heat.

Uraaaaa!

Our Olympians are racing to Red Square☺️



Fans made a warm welcome😍 # TeamOKR # ROCTeampic.twitter.com / WBRq62L6JF

- Olympic Russia (@Olympic_Russia) August 9, 2021

Thousands of people gathered with Russian flags to thank the national team for their performance.

In turn, the athletes who returned home finally had the opportunity to touch their native banner and listen to the national anthem.

One of the most touching moments of the whole event was the meeting of the Olympians with their families.

Many have not seen them for over a month and did not hide their emotions.

Sisters Dina and Arina Averina burst into tears, squeezing their parents in their arms.

And the last fans presented a cardboard gold medal, because the girl did not manage to climb the podium in the personal all-around.

“Without you there would be nothing - no victories, no us, no sport.

So I want to say thank you very much.

What is happening now in the world of rhythmic gymnastics is beyond words.

Thank you very much that you support me, Arisha and the entire rhythmic gymnastics team with the whole world, ”Dina said, addressing people.

And handball player Anna Vyakhireva left the stage altogether with a child on her shoulders.

“Incredibly happy to be back.

We may not be at home yet, but at least at home - in Moscow in Russia.

This is an incredible experience.

I had no idea how everything would be.

We were greeted so that goosebumps ran down our skin.

Thank you very much to the people who came and waited in this heat ”, - thanked the Olympic silver medalist.

The appearance of the team on stage in front of the fans is no less emotional moment.

The athletes were greeted with a standing ovation, after which the well-deserved anthem of Russia was finally played in their honor, and not the Tchaikovsky concert, to which everyone had time to get used to in Tokyo.

Olympic champion in high jump Maria Lasitskene was honored to raise the flag.

“I haven't been home for over a month.

So far I only feel tired.

After a nine-hour flight, I had to go in the heat.

At first, the fuse was present, but now I just want to come home and lie down.

Although, of course, all this is covered by the joy of victory and return home.

Finally, we got the opportunity to listen to our anthem, touch the flag.

Yes, and so many people met us, ”said synchronized swimmer Alla Shishkina in an interview with RT, who became a three-time Olympic champion in Japan.

But by far the largest support group was with boxer Albert Batyrgaziev, who in Japan rose to the highest step of the podium in the weight category up to 57 kg.

The soldier was greeted by dozens of fellow countrymen.

He literally didn't have a single second to spare, as people regularly came up to get autographs.

In the end, the native of Dagestan began to swing in his arms.

As a result, the champion's smartphone ended up on the cobblestones, but without serious damage.

pic.twitter.com/jSFn3qsqtj

- Olympic Russia (@Olympic_Russia) August 9, 2021

“I didn't even doubt that so many people would come to support.

After the competition, I had to spend several days in the Olympic village, because my final took place on August 5th.

We managed to make our names in history, but we cannot stop there, ”the boxer emphasized.

At the same time, he admitted: the realization of what was done in Tokyo has not yet come to him, and he tries to treat the gold won with maximum calmness.

“The next day after the victory, I started like any other - I went to exercise.

When I ran along the embankment, a lot of thoughts rushed through my head.

I said to myself: “Albert, try to forget this.

Everything you did in Tokyo happened yesterday.

We need to get off the pedestal and work on. "

It's much easier that way, ”added Batyrgaziev.

At this time, his colleague Zenfira Magomedalieva, who took the bronze award in Tokyo, modestly stood aside.

Most of all, the athlete dreamed of being at home, where she had not been for almost a month - since July 18.

At the same time, she said that the Olympics in Japan will forever remain in her memory, despite the sanctions imposed on the Russian team.

“We had a fairly large base in Japan. Inside there was a beauty salon, shops, and a dining room - a town inside which you could walk. I talked more with my fellow countrymen from Dagestan. With foreigners, they did not particularly intersect, although there were jokes. Everyone asked: “So, something is not clear, but where is Russia? What other ROC collects all the medals. " Of course they laughed. Anyway, we have such a form that everyone understood where we came from and what country we represent, ”Magomedalieva noted.

However, many athletes admitted that they were really very tired, although they were delighted with the meeting at home.

Most wanted to see their relatives as soon as possible.

For example, volleyball player Yegor Klyuka crossed paths with his wife for the first time in almost a month, but talked to her for literally 30 seconds.

Further, the silver medalist of the Olympic Games was taken into the ring by reporters and fans.

The winger patiently continued to sign autographs and take pictures.

“To admit, it’s a bit hard for now.

After all, we had a very difficult final.

Then there was a long flight from Tokyo.

And now, literally from the plane's ladder, we found ourselves on Red Square.

But, of course, the way we drove and how we were greeted is incredible.

A trip by an open-top bus around the city will also remain in memory forever, even if you have no strength at all, ”Kluka said.

So Shishkina admitted that the only thing she really wants is to come home and fall on the bed.

At the same time, she called the Olympic gold in Tokyo, the third in her career, the most difficult psychologically, since she had to go through a long separation from her family.

“I think every Games are nervous.

I went to London as a 23-year-old debutante and was very afraid to let experienced teammates down.

In Rio, until the last moment, nothing was clear about the admission of the Russian national team.

Now they were more worried about the pandemic.

The main thing is that everyone remained healthy.

But after the transfer of the Olympics, we understood that we had to train for another year.

It is very difficult to realize this, ”the synchronized swimmer explained.

The 32-year-old Shishkina managed to end her career on a positive note, and the solemn meeting in Moscow will forever remain in her memory.

The last Olympics in Tokyo may be for Vyakhireva.

Immediately after the end of the Games, she admitted that she intends to pause.

However, in an interview with RT, Anna emphasized that she does not yet know how long she can drag on.

“I was beaten a lot at the Olympics, but there were no serious injuries.

On the other hand, those "sores" with which I arrived in Tokyo have not yet completely gone.

Frankly, I had to endure a lot.

Now, I hope, it will be possible to heal everything thoroughly, ”explained Vyakhireva.

But, according to the handball player, on the day of her return from Tokyo, she received such a charge of positive emotions that now she intends to go to the Olympic Games in Paris.

“When I saw the fans who met us, everything that happened around and the emotions of people ... Incredibly kind, they had fun with us.

It was very gratifying.

To be honest, I thought that I want to go to Paris, ”added Vyakhireva.

I intend to go to France and Batyrgaziev, although Albert has already started his professional career.

"I like it.

It is an important experience, but the Olympics are a truly unforgettable experience.

Any athlete dreams of taking part in them.

And before the Olympic Games in Paris there are only three years left, this is still not five years.

Therefore, I am getting ready to go there, ”the boxer emphasized.