KEY POINTS:
It was a welcome fit for a hero.
Olympic champion Valerie Vili was greeted with roars, cheers and unfettered applause by her pupils and colleagues at Macleans College in Bucklands Beach.
Across the bridge on the North Shore, hundreds of fans, schoolchildren and a Navy band welcomed boardsailing
gold medallist Tom Ashley back to his home base, Takapuna Boating Club.
The world and Olympic champion was one of five competitors the club had at the Beijing Games.
At Macleans College, Vili was joined by her coach Kirsten Hellier, a former Macleans College student.
Both women work as sports co-ordinators at the East Auckland school.
After passing through a guard of honour on the walk to the school's quad, Vili and her coach were honoured with a deafening haka.
Deputy principal Jim Lonergan, who first taught at the school in 1983 when Hellier was an "outspoken" and "strong minded" student, said Vili and Hellier's achievements had served as models of inspiration to teachers and students alike.
All pupils had potential to achieve great things, but often stopped short of reaching them, he said.
"So it's brilliant to see kids come through and actually do it."
He said Vili's ability to encourage and support the pupils was a hallmark of her personality.
That was an observation shared by head boy Elson Boo.
"She is an inspiration, she is a great role model.
"We don't actually see her as a teacher, we see her as a mentor. She shows us what you've got to do to succeed."
Her friendly attitude did not make her soft, he said, and he "wouldn't even think" of back-chatting her.
Vili said her attitude to the students was simple: each was as important and special as any other person, including herself.
For Hellier, the day was another chance to reflect on a harsh comment made to her at the school more than 20 years ago by a physical education teacher.
The teacher told her she would never amount to anything in sport.
She has since won nine New Zealand javelin titles and a Commonwealth Games silver medal, and now has the satisfaction of returning to Macleans with her most famous prodigy, Vili, wearing an Olympic gold medal.
Hellier said the reception at her old school yesterday was an extension of the ongoing support she and Vili received while in Beijing. And that support mattered, she said.
"It gives you energy and that desire to do the very best."
