Olympic pride in Tauranga

Tauranga's spirit was high despite the drizzle, as hundreds of residents lined the streets to welcome our Olympians back to the Bay.

More than three hundred pupils from Tauranga Primary packed onto Devonport Road in the hope of catching a glimpse the athletes.


Olympian Sam Meech shows his Bronze Medal to a young fan.

Phoebe Hawes, 10, was looking forward to seeing gold medallists Peter Burling and Blair Tuke; while Stanley Watson, 11, was waiting for Luuka Jones.

'I like kayaking and she kayaks,” says Stanley.

Also waiting for the parade were Bay residents Bob and Lyn Smyth, who were looking forward to seeing the Tauranga sailors.

'I've known them since they were knee high,” says Lyn.

'We're very proud watching them grow up and their success.”

As the Olympians were driven onto Devonport Road, they were greeted to cheers and flag-waving from onlookers, while the primary students performed a kapa haka from the footpath.


Tauranga Primary students gather to watch the parade.

Accompanied by police, cheerleaders and a stilt-man, the athletes fired streamers into the cheering crowds as they made their way down the road.

Midway down Devonport Road, gold medallists Peter Burling and Blair Tuke saw a familiar face in the crowd and jumped out of the parade to hug onlooker Jimmy Gilpin.

A life member of the Tauranga Yacht Club, Jimmy knew the Olympians from 'way back” and followed their success in Rio.

'I'm absolutely unbelievably proud of all of them,” says Jimmy.

After catching up to the parade, the gold medallists joined the Olympians filing into Edgewater Fan, where the crowd were gathering for the ceremony.

The athletes were greeted to a rousing haka from Bethlehem's Te Wharekura o Mauao School, before speeches were given by Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby and Tauranga Boys' College deputy principal Johnson Davis.


Gold medallist Peter Burling re-joins the parade.

The athletes then spoke themselves, thanking the crowd and sharing their experiences in Rio.

'It's pretty awesome to be back in the Bay – I love this place for sure,” says Jason Saunders.

The successes of Tauranga Olympians unable to attend the parade were also highlighted at the ceremony.

These included Mike Dawson, Zoe Stevenson, Gemma Flynn, Ella and Bryden Nicholas, Lisa Carrington, Sam Charlton and Jamiee Lovett.


Tauranga Boys' College Deputy Principal Johnson Davis addresses the crowd at the ceremony.


Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby congratulates gold medallists Blair Tuke and Peter Burling.

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