Welcome home

Everyone from Liu Xiang and his newly ruptured Achilles tendon to Mary Kom and her new million-rupee check is settling back in around the world, China Daily reports.

It was fun while it lasted, but it's also good to be back home.

The London Olympic Games, the 30th to be held in the modern era, came to a musical end on Monday morning (Beijing time). After a touch more than two weeks of intense action, a massive collection of many of the world's best athletes in their chosen sports let their hair down as the Olympic baton passed from the England capital to 2016 host Rio de Janeiro at the quirky but lyrical closing ceremony.

Now, it's back to the real world and family and friends for those who entertained us so much.

Some will go on and pursue another Olympic dream with four years of mainly anonymous toil. Others have already chosen to abandon their sporting careers for new professional paths. But they all will have enduring memories of their time in London and can proudly boast, "I am an Olympian".

The most famous of China's athletes, ailing track star Liu Xiang, arrived in his hometown of Shanghai on Tuesday. The 29-year-old remains optimistic that his career will continue despite undergoing another surgery on his Achilles tendon after crashing out of the 110m hurdles heats.

"It's all going well, just another scar for me," he told reporters at the airport upon his homecoming. "I'm mainly recuperating now, as at the moment I can't move, so I have to rest."

He said he may be able to start jogging after about two months and wanted to return to the track and compete again.

Elsewhere, in Beijing, China's Sports Minister Liu Peng led the Olympians home and was welcomed by State Councilor Liu Yandong.

China won 38 gold medals, 27 silver and 23 bronze in London - second only to the United States.

Among the returning Chinese athletes was women's hammer thrower Zhang Wenxiu, who finished fourth in London. She enjoyed the moment of a lifetime when her boyfriend proposed to her at the airport.

It was an experience she will never forget, but from track legend Usain Bolt and pool behemoth Michael Phelps to the little-known rower from Niger, Hamadou "The Hippo" Djibo Issaka, the athletes, land or water based, all gave us moments to treasure.

Enjoy being back home and thanks for the memories.

(China Daily 08/15/2012 page24)