Beth’s homecoming memories - “The day I put a dent in my own Olympic medal!”

After the homecoming parade in Manchester it really got me thinking of the homecoming parade I was involved in after the 2012 games.

The thing that shocked me straight away about 2012 was the sheer number of people who turned out to celebrate with us. I can understand thousands of people watching at home during the games but for people to turn out for our homecoming showed just how powerful sport can be when it comes to bringing people together.

 I can remember seeing banners with my name on that children had drawn and people shouting my name and cheering me on, it was incredible and a feeling I will never forget.

 One memory that sticks out from the London 2012 parade is waiting for Boris Johnson to do a speech in front of Buckingham Palace when the parade had finished and standing up totally forgetting that my Olympic medal was on my lap and hearing it hit the floor. My heart sunk when I realised that I had dented it but actually now it has its own little story of that fantastic day.

 Team GB 2016 deserve all the accolades that will come their way and I am sure they will enjoy the day as much as we all did.