Kelowna International Airport's arrival bay was filled with family, friends, and fans of Team BC's Special Olympic athletes Sunday afternoon. 

After a short flight delay, 30 members returned home from competing at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games held in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

"They were really great," says Tracey Melesko, a cross-country skier from Kelowna. "The volunteers were just unbelievable, the venue was just incredible - cold but it was incredible."

Melesko brought home four medals, the most of her career, in her fifth Canada Winter Games. 

"It's exciting. I am just so proud of myself."

Cross country ski volunteer coach Garth Vickers says the team came from various locations within the valley.

"We had eight cross country skiers a bunch of snowshoers up and down the Valley from Penticton to Vernon as well as the coaches that were selected... Lots of excitement coming back to see the crowd here as always."

Every athlete from the Okanagan who participated in the games came home with at least one medal. Most wore multiple medals around their necks as they entered the arrivals area, including Tony Wilkinson. 

"My training did pay off for this," laughs Wilkinson. 

Wilkinson, a snowshoe athlete from Kelowna who spoke to Castanet before the games came home with two golds and two silvers from this competition. 

"It's so amazing, it's so awesome - I can't believe this is happening and it's real."

Wilkinson's dad David coached the snowshoe athletes while his brother Ty was the volunteer curling coach. David told Castanet that both he and Ty were able to watch Tony win his gold and it was a very special moment. 

The athletes and coaches say spending time together and working as a team was their favourite part. 

"That was really fun. We spent time together all the time and cheering each other on," says Mary Adamson, a snowshoe athlete from Vernon.

Up next? The 2021 Special Olympics World Winter Games. Athletes haven't been chosen yet, but that won't stop this group from starting to train.  

"On the flight coming back, two of the athletes said what are we doing on Wednesday... are we going hiking or skiing?" laughed Vickers. 

"It doesn't seem to matter if they're going to Worlds - they're in love with the sport."