This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/7588903.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Village welcomes Olympic champion | Village welcomes Olympic champion |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Olympic champion Nicole Cooke's home village is welcoming back the 25-year-old cyclist who began Team GB's Beijing "gold rush". | |
| She was a familiar sight for years on roads around Wick in the Vale of Glamorgan, as she applied herself to a punishing training regime. | |
| Festivities at the village include an open-top bus tour, with a vanguard of cyclists, and a marquee on the green. | Festivities at the village include an open-top bus tour, with a vanguard of cyclists, and a marquee on the green. |
| Community council chair Pauline Thomas said: "We're letting our pride show." | Community council chair Pauline Thomas said: "We're letting our pride show." |
| Cooke, who landed Britain's first Olympic gold medal of 2008, had a starring role at the ceremony in Cardiff Bay this week for all Wales' returning Olympians. | Cooke, who landed Britain's first Olympic gold medal of 2008, had a starring role at the ceremony in Cardiff Bay this week for all Wales' returning Olympians. |
| First Minister Rhodri Morgan singled her out for praise, saying she had "kicked off the gold rush" in Beijing, with early her success encouraging the confidence of the other athletes. We know how hard she's worked and her achievement is so great Hannah Thomas | First Minister Rhodri Morgan singled her out for praise, saying she had "kicked off the gold rush" in Beijing, with early her success encouraging the confidence of the other athletes. We know how hard she's worked and her achievement is so great Hannah Thomas |
| She was the first Welsh athlete to claim a gold medal at the Olympics since 1972. | She was the first Welsh athlete to claim a gold medal at the Olympics since 1972. |
| She is also only the second Welsh woman to have won Olympic gold, following Cardiff swimmer Irene Steer's win in the 4x100m freestyle relay in 1912. | She is also only the second Welsh woman to have won Olympic gold, following Cardiff swimmer Irene Steer's win in the 4x100m freestyle relay in 1912. |
| Local barmaid Hannah Thomas said Cooke was a well-recognised figure in the area as she trained in all weathers from a young age. | Local barmaid Hannah Thomas said Cooke was a well-recognised figure in the area as she trained in all weathers from a young age. |
| She often cycled a longer than necessary route to and from school as a way to increase her weekly mileage. | She often cycled a longer than necessary route to and from school as a way to increase her weekly mileage. |
| She said: "It's brilliant that all her hard work has paid off over many, many years. She's shown such determination and motivation. | She said: "It's brilliant that all her hard work has paid off over many, many years. She's shown such determination and motivation. |
| "Everyone is obviously on a high and really just proud that she's done this. It's getting exciting. Everyone is making things for the buffet.Nicole Cooke had a starring role in the ceremony at Cardiff Bay | "Everyone is obviously on a high and really just proud that she's done this. It's getting exciting. Everyone is making things for the buffet.Nicole Cooke had a starring role in the ceremony at Cardiff Bay |
| Mrs Thomas said: "She's a village girl and we want to say 'well done Nicole'. | Mrs Thomas said: "She's a village girl and we want to say 'well done Nicole'. |
| "Everybody remembers Nicole and her brother riding their bikes to school every day. | "Everybody remembers Nicole and her brother riding their bikes to school every day. |
| "We're really looking forward to this day and it's something we want for her, she deserves it. | "We're really looking forward to this day and it's something we want for her, she deserves it. |
| "We have seen her work hard. We know how hard she's worked and her achievement is so great." | "We have seen her work hard. We know how hard she's worked and her achievement is so great." |
| The village has also seen an increase in a number of cyclists passing through in the past few days. | The village has also seen an increase in a number of cyclists passing through in the past few days. |
| She said: "I think they want to catch a glimpse of what's going on here and maybe catch a glimpse of Nicole." | She said: "I think they want to catch a glimpse of what's going on here and maybe catch a glimpse of Nicole." |