• Gold medallist Adam Hall back in Otago
Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin was just one of about 400 well-wishers scrambling to welcome home Paralympic gold medallist Adam Hall at Dunedin International Airport yesterday.
Mr Chin told the gathering the Outram disabled skier's inspiring story had affected him deeply.
"Since I've been the mayor I've broken down twice, and today has been one of them," Mr Chin said.
"To meet Adam and realise what he has done for himself, his family and for this community is just so, so huge.
"It has this wonderful feel-good factor.
"The last time that happened was when Danyon Loader came back."
Hall, who was born with spina bifida, won the gold medal in the men's standing slalom at the Winter Paralympics in Canada last month despite crashing in his second run.
The courageous 22-year-old scrambled to his feet and was quickly back up to speed.
He arrived home to a boisterous welcoming from the Te Ara Hou kapa haka group and a lone bagpiper, and the plane he travelled on touched down between jets of water supplied by two fire appliances.
It was a red-carpet welcome Dunedin-style and he was ushered past the baggage claim and upstairs to where the reception had been prepared.
Hall's mother, Gayle, hovered proudly in the background, still clutching the bouquet her son threw to her while he stood on the podium.
Her knuckles were not exactly white, but she was not letting the now-dried flowers go.
It took some fierce determination and some fast talking to convince officials they were safe to bring into the country.
If Hall is still coming to terms with the magnitude of his achievement and adjusting to life as a role model, it did not show.
He spoke with grace and decorum.
"To get off that plane and see all of this support was one of the best feelings I've ever had," he said.
"I'll try not to get too teary.
"It has definitely been a long ride and not something I could have done by myself.
"Having your support definitely helped getting the big one," he said raising his chunky medal for the crowd.
"Hopefully, you guys saw it on TV.
"I made it entertaining for you in that second run," he joked.
Hall is planning on having a "wee" break before heading back to the slopes and preparing for the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Russia.
