Saskatchewan Olympians Kaylyn Kyle and Krista Phillips got heroes' welcomes at the Saskatoon airport last night after returning from the London Games.
There were hugs, cheers and happy tears from family and friends — followed by interviews and autograph-signing.
Phillips and the women's basketball team finished 8th, while Kyle is a member of Canada's bronze-medal winning women's soccer team.
Kyle was among three Saskatchewan residents who won medals: soccer teammate Kelly Parker and Rachelle Viinberg of Regina, who won silver in the women's eight rowing competition, were the others.
Another athlete with a Saskatchewan connection is Moose Jaw-born swimmer Richard Weinberger, now a Victoria resident, who captured bronze in the men’s 10-kilometre open-swimming marathon event.
Kyle said for her, it was an emotional homecoming.
"Just coming home and being able to share this with everyone in Saskatchewan ... it's really a dream come true and it's overwhelming," Kyle said. "I'm going to try not to cry in this interview but yeah, it's a very special moment right now."
Saskatoon's Kyle called her team's medal-winning goal against France a perfect ending. That win followed a heartbreaking loss to the American squad that set the stage for the U.S. to win gold.
"Winning with 10 seconds left, it was a fairy tale, it was a storybook ending," she said. "I don't think I would have changed it. Of course, playing in the gold medal match would have been nice, but this made it perfect, to be honest."
Kyle said she'll spend the next few weeks relaxing after her Olympic experience.
She also said she hopes the success of her team will encourage young girls to be future Olympians.