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Wednesday, August 27, 2008, 08:24
Grasping hold of the British bulldog thrown from a member of the adoring public, draped in the colours of the Union flag, Rebecca Adlington looked out to the crowds lining the street.
It was that British bulldog spirit that had seen her claim double gold in China and smash the oldest world record in the swimming book in the 800m freestyle.
But as she sat in her seat on the open-top bus in her home town of Mansfield yesterday, she admitted to being overwhelmed.
The 19-year-old and her family had joked about whether anybody would turn up.
But just 24 hours after touching down from the Games, more than 10,000 people lined the route from the Civic Centre to Market Place to salute Mansfield's finest.
They need not have worried. Sat in the front corner of the bus, her boyfriend Andy, sisters Laura and Chloe and mum Kay and dad Steve were all there to enjoy the moment.
Adlington was almost lost for words as she looked out to the streets, everybody shouting her name, pipping their horns and waving their flags to acknowledge her achievement.
As soon as she got out of the initial media scrum to take her place on the bus, she laughed and joked with her boyfriend, sucking helium from the balloons and talking in a squeaky voice while the bus stood stationary outside the headquarters of Mansfield District Council.
And while the national media were trying to get pictures at every opportunity, she happily posed as her mum snapped away with the Adlington family camera.
While the nation's eyes were on the bus, they also wanted to enjoy this moment as a family.
Sister Chloe made sure there was a home video to catch the event, taking it all in from the bus.
While she might now be known around the world, it suddenly hit home that Adlington is just a normal girl, in a close family.
She cooed as she looked out to see a baby's pushchair decorated with the Union flag on Chesterfield Road, her face upon it with a message of support.
And the same smiles came from the family as they looked down to see the occupants of two local nursing homes lining the streets, some in their wheelchairs, clapping and cheering.
Young and old alike, everyone wanted to salute the star of the town.
Her dad Steve and mum Kay beamed with pride, offering thumbs up as well-wishers shouted messages of support to them, telling them not only how fantastic their daughter was but how great a job they had done.
But as the bus turned the corner to head down the hill to the Market Place, the enormity of it all started to sink in.
The square was full, the decibels rising as the crowd glimpsed the bus for the first time in real life after watching the journey via a big screen.
Rebecca herself hardly knew where to look, from screaming onlookers bellowing her name from the ground and some hanging out of fourth-story windows, trying to grab a picture on their mobile phones.
While she waved, you could see her almost questioning in her head if it was all real.
For sister Laura, 21, it was too much. The tears started to flow as she sat on the opposite side of the bus while Rebecca sat somewhat quietly taking it all in.
Looking out in astonishment into the packed crowds, Laura told the Post: "Everybody being here for Becky, you just realise what she has done.
"I don't know what came over me, it has been emotional for us watching her perform. She has been fantastic.
"It has been an amazing turnout, she deserves all this."
Then as they spotted people they knew in the crowd, and Olympic teammate Jess Sylvester on the Town Hall balcony, Rebecca jumped with excitement alongside her dad.
When the bus stopped she was on her feet to speak to her adoring army of fans.
But by the end, she was drained, mentally and physically.
The jet lag was playing havoc and overwhelmed by all the fuss, she said she was looking forward to a complete break to recharge for her 2012 push.
Asked if it had sunk in yet, she replied "No" at the Civic reception before the parade.
"I did not even realise there was this many people in Mansfield," she exclaimed, trying to make sense that they had all turned out for her.
The outpouring of affection has drummed home the message that she is the most famous sportswoman not just in Mansfield but in England at the moment.
On the bus the media attention was as hectic as ever, hardly room to move with video cameras, microphones and photographers at every point when she turned.
She sat down taking it all in, not wanting to stand while the bus was moving for fear of probably being sick.
And with such a turnout taking her breath away, her legs might have buckled through the emotion had she stood.
Everybody wanted a piece of Rebecca and she duly obliged, although flagging towards the end.
But as the fireworks went off and the ticker tape fell, she offered the phrase heard so many times.
"I don't believe it," she said.
She said the same after her 400m triumph, again after the 800m.
Her talent is, in her coach's words, about to make her a sporting superstar. Judging by the reaction yesterday from the Mansfield public, she already is in her own town.
But on the bus, with her sisters and parents, it was evident this is as close-knit family as you get. They were all enjoying it, delighted for Rebecca and she was proud of them.
Boyfriend Andy simply kept shaking his head with a huge smile as his girlfriend's picture beamed out on the big screen, having to keep taking deep breaths to take it all in.
His smile was as big as that of the rest of the family, revelling in Rebecca's achievements even if the teenager herself does not want to boast
Her parents were like youngsters themselves, beaming with pride as the two gold medals jingled around the neck of their youngest daughter.
"It's incredible," said dad Steve on the bus. "There are so many people it is unbelievable. I was worried about whether they would turn out but I needn't have, I cannot thank the Mansfield public enough. The support has just been amazing."
And as she sits down today, in the privacy of her own home and takes it all in, she will start to believe it.
This is real. And she is a household name.
Adlington's triumph has brought the town together, all ages, races and backgrounds coming together to celebrate a marvellous achievement.
She even had a message for all the youngsters out there, speaking from the open top bus to encourage them to get involved in sport.
"I think London is going to be an amazing opportunity for kids to get involved with sport.
"I don't know about the funding issues but you don't need huge amounts of funding. I've been on hardly any at all.
"A pool is a pool, no matter what. I just think it's important for kids to get involved."
Such scenes have not been witnessed in Mansfield for a long while, but the hope is it is only four years until it happens again in 2012.
And after yesterday's bus parade, she will not want to let her adoring public down.
Becky on the bus
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