Castle reception for Olympic heroes

Published on Saturday 6 September 2008 00:24

SCOTLAND'S Olympic success was celebrated again last night with a gala reception at Edinburgh Castle.

Beijing heroes Chris Hoy and Katherine Grainger were the guests of honour at the event hosted by Alex Salmond, the First Minister.

The triple gold-winning cyclist and the silver-medal winning rower were piped into the reception by the Dundee-based Mains of Fintry pipe band, which performed at the opening ceremony in China.

All 31 Scots who were part of the British team in Beijing were invited to last night's reception, along with support staff, representatives of various sporting bodies and friends and family of the Olympic athletes.

However, two of Scotland's other medallists, cyclist Ross Edgar, 25, and canoeist David Florence, 26 – who both won silver – were absent.

Thousands turned out to see the four heroes last week as they travelled down the Royal Mile in an open-top bus. Hoy – who won his gold medals in the men's sprint, the team sprint and the keirin, making him Scotland's greatest-ever Olympian – brought his winning bike to the reception.

He said: "It's great to see all the team back together again. It's the first time I've seen them all in one place since Beijing."

The Edinburgh-born cyclist described the time since he won the medals as a "whirlwind" and said last week's parade was a day to remember.

He said: "It was probably one of the best days of my life, that was just unbelievable."

Grainger, picked up her third silver medal in three consecutive Olympic Games, said the event was a chance to recognise family and friends who had supported the athletes over the years.

"We wouldn't be successful without our support network, without a doubt," she said.