Olympics golden girl Jessica Ennis has told thousands of people in her home city: "This is my home and this is the place that I love."
More than 10,000 are thought to have crammed into Sheffield city centre to welcome the gold medal-winning heptathlete back.
Many at the front of the barriers had waited for more than four hours for Ennis to appear on the stage outside the City Hall.
When she stepped out and waved to the crowd, she was greeted by deafening cheers and a sea of Union flags.
Golden girl: Ennis returned to Sheffield triumphant
The heptathlon champion and gold medallist, 26, was honoured at a civic reception in Barkers Pool in the city centre.
Ennis unveiled her new plaque on Sheffield's Hollywood-style Walk of Fame when she returns to her home city.
She will reveal the tribute, which will have been given a golden hue, on an outdoor stage before it is set into the pavement.
Ennis's name was initially added to the walk - which resembles the famous Walk of Fame tourist attraction on Hollywood Boulevard - last year.
It sits alongside those of other Sheffield stars including actor Sean Bean, singer Joe Cocker and athlete-turned Games organiser Sebastian Coe.
Crowds have been asked to wear gold, nearby trees and lamp posts will be draped in the same colour and Sheffield Lord Mayor Councillor John Campbell will officially welcome the Olympian home.
Mr Campbell said: "Jessica is a true superstar and we want to give her a massive Sheffield welcome home.
"She has done her home city proud. She is such a great ambassador for Sheffield and we are so proud of her.
"Jessica has stayed strong to her Sheffield roots by being educated here through school and university, training here and seeing Sheffield as her home. She has risen to the occasion and now is the time for the city to rise to her."
The celebrations will begin when Balm Green, next to the city hall, will be transformed into a mini athletics track where young people can try out some of the heptathlon events.
