Elnaz Rekabi: 'Missing' sports climber shown arriving in Iran to cheering crowds

Iranian sports climber Elnaz Rekabi, who was thought missing, has been shown arriving back in Tehran to cheering crowds.

There were growing concerns about Rekabi’s safety after she competed at the Asian Sport Climbing Championships in Seoul without a hijab.

Rekabi was praised by protestors back home for breaking Iran’s strict dress code, but her friends and family then lost contact with the athlete on Sunday.

The Iranian embassy in South Korea claimed that Rekabi was being flown back to Tehran, and she arrived back in the city early this morning.

Rekabi, covering her hair with a baseball cap and hoodie, was met by her family at the airport. She was hugged and handed several bunches of flowers.

BBC World journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh shared photos of a sizeable crowd cheering Rebaki, with many chanting "Elnaz is a heroine" as she was driven past.

Iran’s state media later broadcast an interview with Rekabi, in which she repeated the explanation she had given in an Instagram post for competing without a hijab.

The crowd cheers as Elnaz Rekabi, a female climber who competed without a hijab in Seoul and was later censured and forced into an apology by Iranian authorities, arrives at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport in the early hours of the morning.#مهسا_امینیpic.twitter.com/KoiEOzhrGh

"I was suddenly and unexpectedly called on to compete while I was at the women's locker room," she said.

"I was busy wearing my shoes and fixing my equipment and forgot to wear my hijab, which I should have worn.

"Thank goodness, I've returned to Iran in good health and safe. And I apologise to the Iranian people for the confusion and concerns."

The 33-year-old also denied reports that she had lost contact with her friends and family, and was