Australia’s bleary-eyed athletes have received a heroes’ welcome as they touched down early on Wednesday morning (AEST) after the most successful Olympic campaign in history.

The first planeload of Olympians flew long-haul from Paris to Perth where local gold medal stars like pole vaulter Nina Kennedy and boxer Charlie Senior were greeted by cheers and applause.

Other athletes continued the journey to the east coast, landing around 7.30am in Sydney Airport where they were greeted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and were to be treated to a special performance by popstar Jessica Mauboy.

Dual gold medal canoeist Jessica Fox and swimmer Kaylee McKeown — who became the first Australian to win four individual Olympic gold medals — were among the first to exit the Qantas plane.

A stream of star athletes carrying hand luggage followed down the stairs, including skaters Arisa Trew, 14, and Keegan Palmer, holding his skateboard, swimmer Ariarne Titmus and BMX gold medallist Saya Sakakibara.

The first athletes emerge from the Qantas plane at Sydney Airport. Photo: 7NEWS screenshot

Earlier, family, friends and fans crowded the Perth terminal as the athletes showed off the souvenirs in their luggage — gold, silver and bronze Olympic medals.

Pole vaulter Nina Kennedy told media she was still savouring the experience of winning gold in Paris.

“There is one thing on my list of things I always wanted to do was become Olympic champion,” she said.

“If you had asked me, world record or Olympic champ. Olympic champ 100%. No-one can take it away from me.”

West Australian boxer Charlie Senior, who won bronze, was hugged by extended family and friends.

“Coming home is the best feeling out of it all. Walking away from Paris with a bronze medal, it’s a big achievement for myself, big achievement for myself, big achievement for Australian boxing,” he said.

Gold medal canoeist Noemi Fox waves to supporters at Perth’s airport. Photo: 7NEWS

The Paris Olympics is Australia’s most successful Games in the 128-year history of the sporting showpiece.

The nation finished fourth on the medal table with 18 gold medals, 19 silver and 16 bronze.

The 18 glittering golds eclipse Australia’s previous best hauls of 17 from the 2004 Athens Games and in Tokyo three years ago.

The overall Paris collection of 53 medals is a record for an away Games and only bettered by home-ground feats in Sydney 2000 of 58 medals.

Australia captured medals in 14 sports in the French capital.

The Opals celebrating their basketball bronze in Paris. Photo: Getty

Five Australians — sailor Matt Wearn, paddler Jessica Fox, skateboarder Keegan Palmer and swimmers Kaylee McKeown (twice) and Ariarne Titmus — defended their Olympic crowns.

Swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan was the nation’s most successful athlete with three gold medals, plus a silver and a bronze.

Swimmers McKeown, Titmus and Shayna Jack — whose dreamy feats followed a two-year nightmare of a doping ban — and peerless paddler Fox depart Paris as double gold medallists.

Australia’s decorated Dolphin Emma McKeon bolstered her unrivalled medal collection: the swim ace retires with six golds and 14 medals overall, both national high-water marks.

Australia’s team of 467 athletes included skateboarder Arisa Trew: she won the woman’s park event, aged 14 years and 86 days, to become the nation’s youngest-ever Olympic gold medallist.

The staggering success came at a cost: $25 million to be precise.

Chef de mission Anna Meares cautions unless that funding can, at the least, be maintained there may be leaner times ahead in 2028 in Los Angeles before Australia is an Olympic host for a third time, in 2032 in Brisbane.

“This campaign has cost something in the order of $25 million,” Meares said.

“Take time to celebrate it … this is a great achievement.

“It obviously lends to a greater expectation going forward.

“We know that a Games leading into a home Games for Brisbane is really critical.

“What I have really enjoyed here is the breadth of sports that have had success.

“The support that we need, the funding for the sports, is critical in the next eight-year cycle.

“But there’s no guarantee.”

Australia’s achievements were energised by a golden — and silver and bronze — age of women athletes.

Some 57 Australian females have a Paris Olympic medal, as an individual or part of a team, in their carry-away luggage.

Thirty-two Australian males won medals, as individuals or in a team, in Paris.

Australia’s campaign wasn’t always smooth.

There were early teething transport problems with Australian athletes sitting on floors of over-crowded athlete buses.

An assistant coach of Australia’s swim team, Michael Palfrey, was lucky not to be sent home after barracking for Korean swimmers in an interview with Korean media.

Men’s hockey player Tom Craig was arrested for attempting to buy cocaine on a Paris street. The Kookaburra spent a night in custody before being released without charge.

Nineteen Australian Olympians tested positive to COVID during the Games — some competed anyway.

The flashpoints failed to take any gloss of Australia’s golden Games.

-with AAP