Not just the fact that Great Britain has been successful, winning medals by the bucketloads, but the nature and attitude of the athletes who have competed in Beijing.

Not only have we taken these elite sportsman to our hearts because of their performances but also because we feel we can relate to them.

Whether it is boxer Tony Jeffries, who used to flip burgers at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, or swimmer Rebecca Adlington who had to be up for 5am training sessions during her school days, these seem like real people rather than Premier League superstars like Frank Lampard who last week signed a five-year contract with Chelsea, earning £160,000 a week.

Also speaking as a journalist and a sports fan, I have been surprised and delighted with how candid the athletes have been in their interviews.

Whether it is the tears of disappointment of the women's quadruple sculls rowing team, who 'only' got a silver, the honest criticism of her own performance by heptathlon hopeful Kelly Sotherton, or the triumphant Bradley Wiggins talking about his dark days after the Athens Olympics, they have all spoken from the heart.

Even Blake Aldridge's criticism of 14-year-old diving partner Tom Daley may have seemed inappropriate but at least he gave genuine answer to a question, regardless of how bitter he may have come across.

It has been a breath of fresh air compared to the usual cliche-ridden rubbish that we have to sit through on Match Of The Day from players and managers, whose soundbites and answers have to convey the correct image for their clubs and 'corporate partners'.

Of course our Olympian heroes will now be courted by similar sponsors, as they try to ride the wave of enthusiasm that will take them from Beijing to London in four years time.

I just hope as a result of the extra fame and wealth, they won't change from the accessible sportsmen and women that we can relate to, and when they get a microphone shoved under their nose after a success or failure in 2012, they don't revert to being 'over the moon' or 'sick as a parrot'.