Olympic athletes return home - in pictures

Ranomi Kromoqidjojo, who won two swimming golds and a silver for the Dutch, leaves on the Eurostar from St Pancras Photograph: Sean Dempsey/PA

Jonathan and Alistair Brownlee celebrate with their medals during a homecoming reception in Millennium Square, Leeds Photograph: Sean Dempsey/PA

French Olympians show off their medals at St Pancras International station as they leave the UK to head home Photograph: Thomas Campean/LNP

Dutch Olympians are honoured on a medal-shaped stage at the Stationsplein in Den Bosch, Netherlands Photograph: Paul Raats/EPA

French gold medalist Renaud Lavillenie poses with his medal before catching the train back to Paris Photograph: Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images

South Africa's Lawerence Ndlovu with his gold medal at Heathrow Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA

Swedish athletes and coaches are in the frame at Heathrow's Games terminal Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA

Members of Russia's rhythmic gymnastics team sign autographs in the departure lounge at Heathrow – while enjoying some well-earned cake Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Irish boxer Katie Taylor holds her Olympic gold medal as she arrives with the rest of the Irish team at Dublin airport Photograph: Niall Carson/PA

France's Olympic medalists ride an open-air bus down the Champs Elysees in Paris Photograph: Benoit Tessier/REUTERS

Japanese women's volleyball captain Erika Araki and her teammates are welcomed at Narita airport Photograph: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images

Brazil's gold medal-winning women's volleyball team ride a fire engine down Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo Photograph: Nache Doce/Reuters

Hungarian pommel horse gold medalist Krisztian Berki gestures to supporters who welcomed him home to Budapest Photograph: BERNADETT SZABO/REUTERS

German beach volleyball gold medalists Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann arrive at Cologne airport Photograph: Henning Kaiser/EPA

Canadian Olympic football bronze medalist Christine Sinclair waves to fans as she returns home Photograph: Ben Nelms/Reuters

Supporters of Rohullah Nikpai, who won Afghanistan's second-ever Olympic medal with bronze in the taekwondo, welcome him back to Kabul Photograph: S. Sabawoon/EPA

Guatemalan silver medalist Erick Barrondo greets the crowd upon his return to Guatemala City Photograph: Daniele Volpe/EPA

Supporters gather at Piarco airport to welcome home Trinidad and Tobago's gold medal-winning javelin thrower Keshorn Walcott Photograph: Andrea De Silva/Reuters