All were members of the Racers Track and Field Club and their coach Glen Mills was among the group.

Five of those who returned collected medals in London, including the 100m and 200m silver medallist and sprint relay gold medallist Blake; 200m bronze medallist Warren Weir; 110m hurdles bronze medallist Hansle Parchment; 4x400m bronze medallist Rosemarie Whyte, and 4x100m gold medallist Kemar Bailey-Cole.

Triple jump finalist Kimberley Williams and Jason Young also returned.

The group was greeted with a reception of dignitaries at the Norman Manley International Airport and Blake had warm words for Mills as he spoke to those present.

“It really meant a lot to us coming back to this warm reception,” Blake said, adding that London was special for him.

“Coach Mills has been wonderful. Over the years he said to me, ‘Yohan, you’re going to be great.’ He made me cry. ‘The Beast’ has a soft part to him,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mills told the Jamaica Observer that the 1-2-3 finish by athletes coached by him in the Men’s 200m was the highlight of the Olympics for him.

Usain Bolt, who quietly flew into the island on Saturday, claimed gold in the event ahead of Blake and Weir.

“It, too, was one of the highpoints of the Olympics for me. I think it is the first time a coach has ever done that with three athletes that he coached, so it is a lot of first that took place there that is motivating for the way forward,” Mills said.

Weir recalled the day of the 200m final.

“Before the finals Usain came to me and said, ‘1-2-3, let’s do this,’ so I just went out there, held my form, kept a clean mind and did it,” Weir told the Observer.

“When I crossed the finish line I thought I’d got it, but I wasn’t sure. When I realised I got it, man, it was crazy; emotions everywhere.”

Weir told the Observer that he would be moving forward from here because he now has a target. “We’re going at the same pace. It only means the work gets harder for me and nothing changes.”