Elated family welcome silver-medal-winning Olympian Jaclyn Narracott back home to Brisbane

Tears, flowers and a whole new family member greeted silver medallist Olympian Jaclyn Narracott as she entered the arrivals lounge at the Brisbane International Airport this morning.

Swapping Beijing's icy Winter Olympic Games' tracks for the Brisbane summer heat, Narracott embraced her mum, Cheryl, and dad, Roger, along with her baby nephew, Hudson.

It's not just the first time her family has seen her since she added an Olympic silver to her resume. It's the first time the 31-year-old has returned to Australia in more than two years and her first time meeting baby Hudson.

Speaking at the airport, Narracott told reporters the silver medal was something she had always dreamed of, but never expected.

«The only way it feels real is when this is actually around my neck,» Narracott said.

«I couldn't believe that I'd actually done it … as is very evident in all the photos.»

Narracott transfixed Olympic viewers in Australia as she hurdled down icy tracks at speeds in excess of 130 kilometres per hour in the skeleton event.

In her own words, skeleton involves taking a running start and diving head-first down what is basically an «iced waterslide» on a «boogie board with metal [rails] down the back of it … as fast as you possibly can».

But the story behind Narracott's success is just as thrilling.

Olympic talent runs in the Narracott family, but it was a chance encounter that led a teenage Jaclyn Narracott to the sport of skeleton.

Her mum, Cheryl Narracott, told ABC Radio that her daughter was inspired by her uncle's stories early on.

Narracott's uncle, Paul Narracott, competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympic games.

«She used to hear the stories, actually — these stories get passed down through the family,» Cheryl said.

Growing up,