By Simon Stone, PA Sport

Let's hear it for the girls!

That was the cry from Denise Lewis as Britain's record-breaking Olympic team arrived back from Sydney on Tuesday.

The heptathlon gold-medalist from Wolverhampton was the shining light among the female track and field stars at the 2000 Olympiad.

With Kelly Holmes and Katharine Merry racing into bronze position in the 800 and 400 metres respectively and Paula Radcliffe's heroic run in the 10,000m still fresh in the mind, Lewis believes the women's team are now in a position to usurp their traditionally dominant male counterparts as the standard bearers for athletics in this country.

"Women are back," cried Lewis.

"We have always been criticised for being underachievers but if you look at the medals we have won and the personal bests we have achieved, we have shown we can stick it and we are top performers."

With her unquestionable good looks, Lewis is now assured a flourishing career as a model and television personality away from the track.

However, she shows no sign of even considering quitting and is eager to add to her expanding medal collection.

After overcoming the ravages of a mysterious foot injury which almost saw her withdraw from the competition on the final day, Lewis recalled the feeling which flooded over her when she crossed the finishing line in the final, punishing 800m and realised victory was hers.

"When you realise a dream, it is just so overwhelming," she said.

"The emotions engulf you but at the same time you feel an inner peace knowing you have achieved the highest accolade you can in this sport.

"To say you are proud and delighted doesn't really do justice to what you actually feel."

If anything, Holmes' achievement was even more stupendous than that of Lewis.

The middle distance star had barely been able to train a month before the Games and flew Down Under more in hope than expectation of snatching a medal.

"I was so shocked to be in front that I stopped running for the line," she admitted.

"Most people set their own goals and when I won the bronze I must have said 'I don't believe it' about 20 times in four minutes because I was completely stunned.

"I have been through so much because of injury and people do not see that side of your preparation.

"That was my gold medal run and now I hope I can relaunch my career and more than anything, stay healthy."

For Merry, who also celebrated her birthday and got engaged during a momentous seven-day spell, the feeling of triumph will last.

One of Britain's most promising sprinters as a junior, Merry has stepped up in distance under the guidance of coach Linford Christie and managed third place in the 'Freeman 400'.

"I will be smiling for a long time," she said.

"Our success was a big thing out there but now we have come back, it suddenly hits you that as a team we have done quite well.

"The last few days have been mad but there was a great atmosphere on the plane home.

"All in all, we have had a really good time."