Slovenian athletes who took part in the Paris Olympics were given an enthusiastic welcome home at an event that drew a huge crowd to Ljubljana's Congress Square late on 12 August.

The biggest round of applause was drawn by the three medallists - the Olympic champions Andreja Leški in the women's judo under 63kg category and Janja Garnbret in the boulder & lead, and the silver winning kite rider Toni Vodišek - and the men's handball team, who finished 4th.

Golden smile and buckets of tears

"My smile has gone a bit more golden still. There's been so much positive energy and good spirits," Leški, the beaming 27-year-old Koper judoka who lives in Ljubljana, told the fans about her catching smile.

"I felt in the wall that you are with me. Thank you all for your support," said Garnbret, the climbing superstar from Koroška, who took the stage as the crowd was shouting her name.

"I still cannot believe how I managed to withstand the pressure. The first time I cried because of the pressure before the bouldering, the second time because of my finger, the third time from happiness," said Garnbret, 25, about the pressure of defending an Olympic gold.

"We're not happy yet, we're going to Los Angeles," Vodišek, the Olympic silver medallist who hails from Koper, said about his plan to go for Gold at the next Olympics.

"My office is by far the most beautiful of all sports. I always say my favourite place to go is the beach," the 24-year-old sailor said about his sport, which had its Olympic premiere at the Paris Games.

They left their heart on the court

The men's handball team, which missed out on the podium in the Olympic tournament, was also met with raucous applause. They wore special medals made by one of the team members' son, reading 1st place.

"We united the fans, which makes us all winners," the team's head coach Uroš Zorman said as the crowd welcomed them as if they had won a medal.

A warm welcome was also given to the men's volleyball team, who did not make it past the quarter-finals. "I'm sorry we didn't achieve what we set out to do, but I'm also proud that we fought and left our heart on the court," captain Tine Urnaut said.

Athletes as an inspiration

The crowd was also addressed by Franjo Bobinac, president of the Slovenian Olympic Committee. "Because of you Ljubljana, and not Paris, is the centre of the Olympic world today," he said.

Earlier, Team Slovenia were hosted at a reception at Presidential Palace by President Nataša Pirc Musar, who called the athletes an inspiration.

"I congratulate each and every one of you for the results you have achieved and for the fight and heart you have shown on the biggest stage in sport. Thank you for inspiring us, uniting us, filling us with pride and reminding us of the values of sport - friendship, respect, fair play," the president said.

Slovenia ranked 34th overall in the Paris 2024 Olympic medal table. In medals per capita, the country of 2.1 million people placed 16th overall and 5th in the gold medal tally ranking.

Slovenia has so far won 31 medals in the Summer Olympic Games since achieving independence in 1991.