OLYMPIC bronze medallist Emma Wilson said inspiring young people to get into windsurfing was “incredible” as she returned from the games to a special Dorset homecoming.

Emma Wilson, 22, who grew up in Christchurch but now lives in Portland, returned from the Tokyo Olympic games with a bronze in the RX:X event.

Speaking of her time at the Olympics, she told the Daily Echo: “I was not really sure what to expect because of Covid but it was really good.

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“All the British sailing team were in the same accommodation bonding together, it was such a good atmosphere.

“I thought I could win a medal, I had come fourth at the last three World Championships.

“The last World Championships I fell in when I was winning, but this event I pulled it together, when I got going I had a feeling it was going to be good.

“My coach told me when I finished the race I had won a medal, but I had to check myself. I wanted to win gold but I’m so happy.”

Emma said she had worked for ten years to get to the Olympics and loved bringing a medal back to her old coaches and family.

Bournemouth Echo: Emma Wilson given a hero's welcome on her return to Dorset from the Olympics

She continued: “I am not sure it has sunk in yet, it is so cool to have a medal next to my bed.

“I went down to the sailing club the day after I got back, all the kids wanted pictures, that means so much to me.”

Dozens of residents gathered in Officers Field in Portland to welcome home the heroic Olympic windsurfer with flares and flags celebrating her success.

“It was amazing,” Emma added. “I didn’t expect it. I didn’t look at my phone much in Tokyo, to hear people saying they watched my races was amazing - nobody watches windsurfing.

“There were loads of kids wanting to see the medal and ask me how it was, it was so cool to see kids with smiles on their faces.

“It feels like [winning bronze] is going to be the start of something.”

Portland Jonathan Bayliff arranged for 40 residents to welcome her home on the weekend.

Jonathan said: “Most the neighbours know Emma and she’s had friends living in the house. We had the bunting up, had a few flares out.

“She was very good to the kids. She showed her medal around, I got a picture with my wife wearing the medal.

“We are all very proud of her. She did so well, performed on the day as well as you could expect her to.

“It’s not just us who is proud of her, she is from Christchurch but has lived here for a while now. She is one of our own.”