Celebrations were in full swing at Bolton’s Leverhulme Park upon the return of an Olympic bronze medallist.

Hannah Kelly, from Bury, won a bronze medal in the women’s 4x400 relay event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Now, she’s returned home for a celebration with her running club, the Bolton United Harriers.

Celebrations went ahead despite the rain, with Hannah walking in to massive applause before being inundated with fans looking for their chance to get a photo.

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We caught up with Hannah, her coach Les, and mum Kathy at the event.

(Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

Les Hall has been coaching at the Harriers for nearly 20 years, having joined the club as an athlete in 1989.

The 59-year-old called Hannah ‘the most dedicated, remarkable young woman’ he’d ever met.

Les said: “I’ve known her since she was 10 years old, and I’ve just seen her get better and better and better and better.

“We’ve had challenges and difficulties, and during Covid when she was away at university was all very challenging, but she’s just smashed it every single time.”

The born-and-bred Boltonian said he was tearful and ‘incredibly proud’ as he watched Hannah racing in Paris.

He added: “This is what we’ve worked for, for 13 years and for her to firstly run at the Olympics but then to come away and be on the podium with a bronze medal round your neck – it was just sensational.”

(Image: UGC)

Mum Kathy said being the mother of an Olympian was ‘still sinking in’.

Speaking to The Bolton News, Kathy said: “When people talk to me about it I still really can’t believe it – to me she’s still my daughter, Hannah, and I still tell her off for leaving cups in her bedroom, et cetera.

“She comes home and she’s just Hannah to me – but yeah I can’t believe it, to be honest – it’s still sinking in to me.”

Kathy said the lead-up to the Olympics was ‘really exciting’ and that her phone and social media were going ‘mad’ while she was in Paris supporting Hannah.

The 57-year-old said her and her late husband Chris had always encouraged the children with education, sports, and hobbies – with Hannah being spotted at a young age in primary school.

She added: “I had never dreamt when I was expecting babies that one of them would be an Olympian.”

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Speaking to The Bolton News, Hannah said returning to the Harriers meant a lot.

The 23-year-old was inundated with requests for photographs and autographs at the event, with one man even asking her to sign his hand.

She said: “It’s really nice, I train here so a lot of the people I’ve trained with. It’s really nice to come back and share this moment with them and to do it for the community.

“It’s really nice and the support’s been amazing.”

The bronze medallist credited her coach Les, her family, and her training group for achieving her Olympic dream.

She added: “I still don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet – I don’t think it will do for a while, it’s amazing.

“I’m trying to enjoy the moment for now, and then we’ll get back into training soon and focus on what’s next next year.

“It’s going to be another big year next year, hopefully.

“Next year there’s world indoor champs and world outdoor champs, they’ll be the big aims. There’s also world relays and stuff like that, I want to try to get into individual stuff as well, that’s the big aim.

“A big thank you to my family and everyone, it’s been a tough few years, injuries and stuff on and off the track, I wouldn’t be here without my family so just a huge thank you to them.”

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.