WATCH | Crowd welcomes Olympic golden girl Tatjana, relay members at Joburg airport

A sizeable and noisy crowd, many of them schoolchildren, eagerly greeted some of Team South Africa's returning medal-winning Olympic heroes at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning.

Swimmer Tatjana Smith, who won the 100m breaststroke gold and 200m silver medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics which concluded this weekend, arrived at about 10am.

The Golden Girl, Tatjana Smith has arrived. pic.twitter.com/F6PrQfHZzD
— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) August 13, 2024

Two members of South Africa's silver-winning men's 4x100m relay team, Bayanda Walaza and Bradley Nkoana, arrived at about 11am.

.@Paris2024 4x100m silver medallists Bayanda Walaza and Bradley Nkoana arrive to a heroes' welcome at OR Tambo Int Airport pic.twitter.com/bdEGHp1bWC
— Marc Strydom (@marc_strydom) August 13, 2024

.@Paris2024 gold and silver medallist Tatjana Smith on the pressure and hunger she felt to win more medals after Tokyo 3 yrs ago pic.twitter.com/psciabqKUS
— Marc Strydom (@marc_strydom) August 13, 2024

The other two members of the team were not returning to South Africa immediately. Shaun Maswanganyi is returning to his base in the US and Akani Simbine has stayed on to compete in events in Europe.

A noisy group of pupils from Walaza's school, Curro Hazeldean, arrived at about 9.15am to boost the volume and crowd size.

.@Paris2024 Golden Girl Tatjana Smith more than happy to show her medal and pose for selfish with fans at OR Tambo Int Airport pic.twitter.com/hcXVSr4wHk
— Marc Strydom (@marc_strydom) August 13, 2024

Learners from Bayanda Walaza's school, Curro Hazeldean, have turned up the volume here at OR Tambo Airport. pic.twitter.com/aZwu9Zvel6
— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) August 13, 2024

People are starting to arrive at OR Tambo Airport for the arrival of Tatjana Smith and sprinters Bayanda Walaza and Bradley Nkoana. pic.twitter.com/d2MbGayyhF
— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) August 13, 2024