TEENAGE Paralympian Eleanor Simmonds made a triumphant return to Olchfa School in Swansea today clutching the gold medals which had transformed her into a UK sporting celebrity.

Hundreds of cheering pupils carrying banners greeted the double gold medal winner as she returned to the Sketty school for the first time since her triumph in Beijing.

The 13-year-old's phenomenal freestyle swimming achievement was closely followed by pupils at the school who witnessed her double triumph on a big screen in the communal hall.

To large shouts of "Ellie, Ellie" the teenager was driven back to school today in grand style surrounded by a group of close friends in the back of a stretched Jaguar car.

The Paralympian golden girl was greeted by thunderous applause as she stepped out of the car with tears in her eyes.

Classmates rushed to hug her, presenting her with several bouquets as she handed over her medals for examination.

"It's fantastic to be back but I just never expected any of this," a tearful Eleanor said.

"I never expected to win gold and I never expected this."

Mother, Val Simmonds, took over responsibility for the flowers as her daughter was ushered inside the school for a private celebration.

She then received a third gold medal in the form of a giant cake, while the school's 2,000 pupils were all presented with cakes of their own commemorating the moment.

A private assembly for year nine pupils, of which Eleanor is a member, then took place where she was due to cut the symbolic cake.

"We are all shell-shocked by the greeting she has had since returning to the UK," said Mrs Simmonds, aged 55.

"None of it has sunk in yet. It has all been so overwhelming," she added.

The achievement of the teenager, who was born with achondroplasia, or dwarfism, has catapulted her to the centre stage as an example to follow.

Classmates and teachers alike today had nothing but praise for the teenager.

"Wow," said Chloe Webb, aged 13, a school friend of Eleanor's.

"We've been watching what she did in Beijing and it was amazing. Everyone in the school has been talking about her and waiting for her to come back."

Dave Williams, Eleanor's head of year at the school for the last 12 months, said: "She is an inspiration to everyone around her.

"She has done an awful lot to put disability on the map and show that you can take a lot of positives from it.

"Everyone here is really excited about having her back and returning to school and regular lessons is just what she needs to keep grounded.

"But she is a very well driven individual who has a lot of support and she brings the same attitude to her schoolwork as she does to everything else."

Pupils at the school had another reason to cheer Eleanor today when they learned that they were being given a half-day off in recognition of her achievement.