President Mary McAleese tonight welcomed home Ireland's Olympic athletes, including gold medal winning showjumper Cian O'Connor, at an official reception at Áras an Úachtarain.
She personally greeted 17 of the 39-strong team of Olympians as well as their coaches and officials in her State drawing room in Dublin's Phoenix Park.
The first in the queue was golden boy O'Connor who whipped his medal out of his blazer pocket to show to the President.
"Oh my goodness, isn't it beautiful," Mrs McAleese said, and held it in her hands.
Mrs McAleese said of O'Connor later: "We take a special pride in our gold medalist who brought us to new levels of silent hysteria which none of us will ever forget."
The president also paid tribute to former Olympic silver medalist Sonia O'Sullivan - absent from the reception - whose "spirit of dedicated preparation and relentless trying showed the depths of personal courage all Olympians need".
Boxer Andy Lee and track runners Derval O'Rourke and Maria McCambridge were also present, as were Chef de Mission Willie O'Brien and Irish Olympic Council president Pat Hickey.
O'Connor, who attended with his girlfriend Rachel Wyse, said he was now firmly focused on the next Olympics in Beijing in 2008. "Because I'm an Olympic champion I will get automatic entry to grand prix events for the next four years and this will boost by skill and experience," he said. "I hope to be in a medal-winning chance by the time Beijing comes around."
The gold medal horse Waterford Crystal arrived home today and was relaxing at O'Connor's Karlswood Stables in Ashbourne Co Meath tonight.
In her official address to the athletes, Mrs McAleese said they had all earned the respect and admiration of he Irish people because they sacrificed much to pursue their dreams.