Star attraction ... swimmer Stephanie Rice waves during the Aussie Olympic team`s welcome home parade at Queen Street Mall in Brisbane / AAP
Rice says Brisbane Olympics parade in the best
Rice missed previous parades, one while holidaying
About 10,000 attend to cheer Aussie Olympians
STEPHANIE Rice says Brisbane has produced the best Olympic parade yet, despite it being the first welcome home she has attended.
More than 10,000 cheering Queenslanders crowded Brisbane`s Queen Street mall today to welcome home a parade of Australia`s triumphant Beijing Olympians.
Triple gold medallist Rice sat atop a ute and was the centre of attention in her first homecoming parade after a post-Olympics holiday in Thailand, having missed the earlier events in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Swimming`s golden girl high-fived with young fans and joined in auotgraph-signing with Olympics team mates.
"The enthusiasm from the Queensland people has been fantastic - it`s the best parade yet," Rice told a packed house crowding into Brisbane Square.
Australia`s softball team will be excluded from the 2012 Olympics in London but their message was inked on all their forearms - SOFTBALL 2016.
Towering rowing gold medallist Duncan Free, triathlon queen Emma Snowsill, sailing`s Tessa Parkinson and hurdler Sally McLellan were among the medal stars warming to the rousing welcome home and showers of coloured confetti.
surely her 'holiday' could have waited a few weeks?? She had a responsibility to uphold to the Australian people (who funded her) and she certainly showed her thanks....amazing that she could make it to her 'home' parade *roll eyes*... pffftt!!
Posted by: get your priority straight 2:43pm today
Put yourself in her position. When she booked her travel the IOC hadn't made a decision on the dates for the parades. Nobody in their right mind would think that the parades would be on before the paralympians had returned because it would be logical to have all of our olympians here for the parades. Grant Hackett, Liesel Jones, Libby Tricket and a host of other olympians have missed some of these parades because of "other commitments". Get over it people.
Posted by: Steve of Canberra 2:42pm today
Give Steph a break. It was technically the 'best' parade that she has been to. If she was to go to all parades chances are her hometown parade would be the best anyway. Give her a break she trained hard to get to where she is and is entitled to a chance to let her hair down.
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