Canadian Olympians return home after record-breaking Summer Games

Arrival terminals at Toronto and Montreal airports were filled with cheers Monday as fans and families gathered to give a hero’s welcome to Canadian Olympians who returned from the Paris Games with a record number of medals.

The Summer Games saw the Canadian team win an unprecedented number of medals: nine gold and 27 overall. Both records were broken by Canada at a non-boycotted Summer Olympics, surpassing previous records set in Tokyo three years ago and Barcelona in 1992.

At Toronto Pearson International Airport, about 15 Canadian team athletes were greeted by flag-waving airport staff on the tarmac and delighted fans and families at the arrivals gate after the Olympians landed just before 4 p.m.

Among the participants was Toronto swimmer Summer McIntosh, a 17-year-old who shot to fame after winning four medals, including three gold. McIntosh returned to Paris to carry the Canadian flag at the closing ceremony on Sunday alongside gold medallist hammer thrower Ethan Katzberg of Nanaimo, B.C., an experience she called “frankly incredible.”

“I can’t thank the fans enough for all their support. It means the world to us,” McIntosh said. “We wouldn’t be here today without them. Even when we were in Paris, we could feel their support.”

Also returning to Toronto was rowing silver medallist Jessica Sevick of Strathmore, Alta., who was all smiles alongside teammate Kristen Siermachesky of New Liskeard, Ont. Sevick lost her voice amid the celebrations, Siermachesky said, but that didn’t stop them from enjoying the moment.

“Years of hard work, and I think just being able to share it with your teammates in Paris after celebrating that silver medal was pretty special,” said Siermachesky, an alternate for the women’s eight rowing team that reached the podium in the event for the second consecutive Games.

Swimmers Alex Axon, Ella Jansen and Lorne Wigginton also landed in Toronto. All three made their Olympic debuts in Paris and Axon said coming home was an experience they will never forget.

“It takes a team, they say it takes a village, and just looking around I see so many people. It’s unbelievable,” said Axon, of Newmarket, Ont., who competed in the men’s 4×200-metre freestyle relay but missed out on the podium. “I hope I made them proud.”

Fay De Fazio Ebert, a 14-year-old Toronto snowboarder, skated around the arrivals terminal at Pearson Airport. She became the youngest member of Canada’s Olympic team since 1976. De Fazio Ebert placed 20th in her Olympic debut and was proud of herself for doing everything she could to try.

De Fazio Ebert said that although part of her wanted to stay in Paris, she was happy to be home.

“It’s an incredible feeling to represent Canada and know that a group of people are supporting me through this,” she said, adding that she is “looking to go further” and will continue to work hard to improve.

At Montreal International Airport, Sylvain Fafard was on his way to join his son Thomas Fafard, 25, who qualified for the men’s 5,000-meter final. Sylvain, who was in Paris to watch Thomas race, said it was “magical” to see his son enter the Paris stadium.

Thomas didn’t find out until late June whether he would qualify for the Olympics and, to his family’s delight, he finished eighth in the first round and made it to the final, Sylvain said.

“The final was a little more difficult,” Sylvain said, explaining that Thomas tripped and injured his ankle during the race.

“He said… yes, the trip hurt him, but it was more a question of his mental state that took him out of his zone. When the mental or physical state is not functioning at that level, it is harder.

“But he is an Olympian and we are very proud of his journey.”

Nathan Zsombor-Murray of Pointe-Claire, a suburb of Montreal, Que., won a bronze medal with diving partner Rylan Wiens of Saskatoon, Sask., in the men’s 10-metre synchronized platform.

Upon arrival at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, Zsombor-Murray was not wearing his medal, telling reporters: “I don’t like to brag, I’m a humble person.”

He said the medal was in his suitcase and he would find a place to hang it at home.

After failing to win a medal in the men’s 10 metres individual event, the 21-year-old said: “I wasn’t very happy… but I always try to learn from my experience.”

Now that the Games are over, he says he feels “a little jaded.”

“It was an incredible adventure and I am extremely happy to have had this experience. But after a month away from home, it is difficult not to feel homesick.”

But he said there was a good chance he would try to return to Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games.

“Do I still want to compete in the Games? I think so. I’m going to take some time to think about what I want to do. I’m also studying. I’m going to take a good break and focus on my studies for a bit, then I’ll come back and see where it takes me.”

Caeli McKay, a Calgary diver who competed in the women’s 10-metre platform and women’s 10-metre synchronized platform, said it was a treat to see her fans in the stands during these Games, unlike last time at the Tokyo Olympics, when the COVID-19 pandemic kept crowds away.

“A few years ago, it was hard to be in Tokyo without anyone cheering us on,” she said. “To have everyone there this time and have a big group of cheerleaders was really amazing, and to be able to look up at the stands after my last dive was something really special.”

Another memorable aspect of Paris was the fact that her husband, former Olympic diver Vincent Riendeau, was part of her support team.

“It was special to have him there and it was his first Olympics as a spectator. It was a great experience for him and it was obviously nice to have the support of an Olympic husband.”

Cédrick Belony-Duliepre, who lives on the South Shore of Montreal, is Canadian but chose to represent Haiti in Paris to pay tribute to his grandparents, who are from the Caribbean country. His family members were at the airport to greet him.

Belony-Duliepre lost in the round of 16 in the 80kg category, but said her time in Paris “was an incredible experience. It was my dream.”

“I have worked hard since I was 15, I am now 25 and I have been working so hard for 10 years, that this is my dream. Every day I have worked for this… I have made sacrifices, with the ups and downs, I have never given up.”

More information on Sportsnet

Olympic takeaways: Canada makes progress, but can success continue?

Canadian Olympic Medal Roundup: Podiums in Paris