MEMORIES of Rio 2016 were rekindled in Cardiff Bay today as Wales’ Olympians and Paralympians received a celebratory homecoming after their exploits in Brazil this summer.

Gwent stars including double silver medal-winning cyclist Becky James and rugby sevens ace Sam Cross, who also won silver, lapped up the applause of the crowd at the Senedd.

Fellow Olympian boxer Joe Cordina, who trains out of St Joseph’s Boxing Club in Newport, and Cwmbran Paralympic duo Kyron Duke and Dave Phillips were also saluted in the Welsh capital.

Rio champions Owain Doull, Hannah Mills, Hollie Arnold and Aled Sion Davies brought their gold medals to the party, which featured samba dancers and choir Only Boys Aloud.

First Minister Carwyn Jones hailed the achievements of Wales’ sportsmen and women following a momentous Olympics and Paralympics for Team GB.

Abergavenny’s James, second in the sprint and keirin, said: “I always hoped I would get a medal but I never expected to, let alone two of them. To have two silvers is a dream come true.

“I raced to get gold but at the same time to have two silvers is amazing. Looking back to where I was a year ago to where I was when I got to Rio, I would never have expected the medals.

“Everyone asks me if I was disappointed not to get gold but I’m thrilled to have silver.”

Cross, from Brynmawr, added: “It’s still a bit surreal because watching the Olympics growing up you don’t think, as a rugby player, you’re ever going to get the opportunity to be a part of something like that.

“I was over the moon just to go to the Olympics but to win a silver medal was incredible.”

Cordina might not have had a great Olympic Games in the boxing ring but the experience is one he will never forget.

“My main goal was to get to an Olympics and I did that,” he said. “I wanted to bring back a medal but unfortunately that’s something I didn’t do.

“Nevertheless, it’s all about learning and, as people say to me, losing is just as much a part of sport as winning is.

“Obviously I was disappointed losing my second fight but I just have to take all the positives from it and move forward.”

As for archer Phillips, he delivered excellent performances in the individual and mixed team recurve competitions before bowing out by the smallest of margins.

“It was an amazing experience,” he said. “The Brazilian people were fantastic and the opening ceremony was great.

“In both events we came up against the world champions from Iran and they were very close matches.

“To challenge the world champions like that and push them right to the edge in our first Paralympics was just the best.”

Rio was Duke’s second Paralympics after London 2012 and although he didn’t quite make the podium in his two events he could still take a lot from the Games.

“I wasn’t as happy with my shot put as I could have been,” he said. “But I forgot about that and carried on with the javelin and came out with a personal best.

“A personal best is almost as good as a medal in my book. I know what I’m capable of, it’s just about doing it on the day. I’m confident for the future.”