Australia's Olympic athletes were welcomed home by a big crowd at Sydney airport Wednesday, with Prime Minister Julia Gillard defending their achievements despite a poor medal haul.

Recriminations have begun in Australia after they finished only 10th at the London Games, down from sixth in Beijing, with just seven golds for their worst victory tally in 20 years.

It was well below expectations, lagging the likes of Hungary and Italy, and a massive 22 gold medals behind traditional arch-rival Britain, the host nation.

Gillard led hundreds of family, friends and well-wishers in welcoming home the athletes and said they deserved praise.

"For those who have been quick to rush out with criticism, London 2012 has been a remarkable result by any measure," she said.

"Our nation is still in the top 10, still fighting, still striving.

"No matter what medal you're wearing around your neck today, or whether you're not wearing a medal at all, you are carrying the greatest of honors, you're Olympians," she noted.

Chef de mission Nick Green highlighted the "golden double" of cyclist Anna Meares and hurdler Sally Pearson, who both won events on August 7, as standout performances.

"What a day it was," he told the crowd, while also paying tribute to the sailing team, which picked up three gold medals and a silver.

In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday also congratulated the country's Olympic athletes and their coaches and expressed his gratitude for their excellent work.

"On behalf of all Russian fans I thank you for your performance, for our country's success at the Olympics Games" Putin said at a special ceremony at the Kremlin.

"This achievement has filled the hearts of the country's millions of supporters with pride for our country."

Putin, a judo black belt who watched some of the competition in London, said he was satisfied the Russian team won more medals than at the previous Games.

"Though we finished in the fourth place in the medal table in London we won more medals than we did in Beijing," he said. "This year we received 10 more medals than in 2008, this is an unconditional success."

In London the Russian team earned 82 medals overall - 24 gold, 26 silver and 32 bronze.

Putin awarded five members of the country's victorious synchronized swimming team - Maria Gromova, Anastasia Davydeva, Natalia Ishchenko, Svetlana Romashina and Elvira Khasyanov - the Order of Merit.

Three-time world champion rhythmic gymnast Evgeniya Kanaeva received the same award for her gold.

"We should set ourselves the very ambitious objectives, the most ambitious," Putin concluded. "In this case we'll achieve a success. It's quite right to set ambitious objectives."

AFP - Global Times