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#TeamMalaysia Receives A Hero’s Welcome As They Finally Return Home From Rio

Welcome back, heroes!

By Nandini Balakrishnan — 24 Aug 2016, 05:22 PM

Cover image via BERNAMA

The Malaysian Olympics team arrived at the Kompleks Bunga Raya in KLIA at about 2.10pm and the occasion was absolutely glorious!

Image from Sin Chew Daily
Image via Sin Chew Daily
Malaysians gathered at Kompleks Bunga Raya in KLIA to await the return of the Malaysian Olympics team

Malaysians gathered at Kompleks Bunga Raya in KLIA to await the return of the Malaysian Olympics team

Image via SAYS

The space was bursting with excitement and national pride as Malaysians were excitedly singing "Keranamu Malaysia" while waiting for the athletes. Just listen to that! :D

Malaysians await the arrival of our Olympians in Kompleks Bunga Raya while singing 'Keranamu Malaysia'. SO EXCITEDDD!

Posted by SAYS on Tuesday, 23 August 2016

Malaysians from all walks of life crowded the space hours before the expected time of arrival, eager to welcome our local heroes.

Press secretary for the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Regina Lee was present too.


大马奥运健儿回来啦～
#WelcomeHome #TeamMalaysia #Pocketimes #百格

Posted by Pocketimes on Tuesday, 23 August 2016
Local YouTubers, Zac Lee,(left) and Shaun Yow (right)

Local YouTubers, Zac Lee,(left) and Shaun Yow (right)

Image via SAYS
Image from SAYS
Image via SAYS
Sisters Miezah Ghani and Eqa Ghani with mother Sariah Lasa

Sisters Miezah Ghani and Eqa Ghani with mother Sariah Lasa

Image via SAYS

Malaysians poured in carrying messages of congratulations while cheering and waving the Jalur Gemilang

Image from SAYS
Image via SAYS
SAYS team with local filmmaker Luqman Sheikh Ghazali (middle) who initiated the #ProjectGoldForLCW as a show of appreciation for the nation's star badminton player

SAYS team with local filmmaker Luqman Sheikh Ghazali (middle) who initiated the #ProjectGoldForLCW as a show of appreciation for the nation's star badminton player

Image via SAYS






... and the golden moment! Welcome back home Malaysian heroes! Thank you for making Malaysia proud! :')





Groups of families and friends make up the crowd gathered to welcome our victorious Olympians!


Our wira-wira negara were welcomed with more good news as PM Najib Razak announced that the government has increased the reward for the medallists.

Silver medallists will be rewarded RM500,000 and bronze winners will be getting RM300,000.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak with all the national athletes during the press conference held at the Kompleks Bunga Raya at about 3:15pm, today 24 August 2016

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak with all the national athletes during the press conference held at the Kompleks Bunga Raya at about 3:15pm, today 24 August 2016

Image via SAYS
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin was present at the welcoming ceremony too.

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin was present at the welcoming ceremony too.

Image via SAYS

Najib also mentioned that he is confident that Malaysia will win gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with our highest medal tally this year.

We bagged three silver for badminton, another one for diving and one bronze for cycling.

Malaysia's medals at the Summer 2016 Rio Olympics

Malaysia's medals at the Summer 2016 Rio Olympics

Image via Rio 2016

PM Najib ended the press conference by expressing his heartiest congratulations and reminded the Olympians that they're all "heroes in our eyes"



Oh, did we mention that we managed to get some selfies with some of our darling athletes? ;)

SAYS Seismik writer Zaidi Aziz with Dato' Lee Chong Wei

SAYS Seismik writer Zaidi Aziz with Dato' Lee Chong Wei

Image via SAYS
Mixed doubles silver medallist, Goh Liu Ying.

Mixed doubles silver medallist, Goh Liu Ying.

Image via SAYS
Chan Peng Soon, mixed doubles silver medallist.

Chan Peng Soon, mixed doubles silver medallist.

Image via SAYS
Silver medallist and Malaysian diver, Cheong Jun Hoong

Silver medallist and Malaysian diver, Cheong Jun Hoong

Image via SAYS

Congratulations, heroes! <3

Image from Giphy
Image via Giphy

The 2016 Rio Olympics served as a great reminder that we're home to some of the most dedicated and best athletes in the world! Some of the best moments from Rio:

7 Unforgettable Moments In The Rio Olympics That United Us As Malaysians

Sports brought all of us together.

Read the full story

Also, Malaysians have been nothing but supportive of our Olympians throughout the Rio Olympics:

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