THE blessings gold can bring.

For the new princess of swimming, it brought a prime ministerial peck on the cheek yesterday on top of an $800,000 television contract, as she led Australia's Olympic team onto home tarmac.

"What happened in Beijing exceeded my expectations," Stephanie Rice told hundreds of athletes' families and friends at Sydney Airport. "I never thought I would come away with what I have."

For Drew Ginn it brought a boarding pass with the seat number "1A" on it - worth a million bucks to the three-time rowing gold medallist, who was still wracked by back pain.

With medallists at the front of the plane and mere Olympians down the back, the seating plan was a reminder of the new order of Australian elite sport. The six-Games veteran and flag-bearer, James Tomkins, was up front, but for the first time he felt what it was like to come back from four years of toil empty-handed.

"It is a different feeling coming back without a medal," said Tomkins, refusing to rule out a seventh attempt. "But everyone gave it a red hot go and that's what matters … and someone's got to sit up the front, after all."

Robin Bell, a bronze medal slalom canoeist, was fourth in Athens. "It's so different to be home with a bit of bling. You get nothing with fourth; there's no love," he said. The silver medal of the swimming team captain, Grant Hackett, was conspicuously absent from his neck, but he said he felt content. "Things don't always pan out the way you want them to, and that's life."

Most of the 435-strong team were craving the mundane as they came back to earth.

Anna Meares wanted a lamington. Tomkins wanted to squeeze his children. Eamon Sullivan wanted a spa and a sleep. Rice just wanted to see her mum.

There was much talk of London in 2012 and of increased funding - in spite of suggestions that, at $19 million each, our 14 gold medals were dearly bought.

Mr Rudd disagreed, saying the Government would increase funding for Olympic sports and look at raising money through a lottery. "This is a great undertaking on behalf of Team Australia. There will always be critics, but I say this, on behalf of the Australian nation, well done."

Australian Olympic Committee's chef de mission, John Coates, said the plan to "take back the Ashes in London" had already begun, and Mr Rudd had made it quite clear that they were on the same page.