OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio — An Ohio community welcomed home an Olympic gold medalist who can now call herself the best female pole vaulter in the world.
What You Need To Know
- Katie Nageotte won gold in the pole vaulting event at the Tokyo Olympics
- Nageotte grew up in Olmsted Falls, Ohio
- The city and school hosted a welcome home event for Nageotte to thank her for making her hometown proud
As the band played, the Bowers family waited patiently.
“I just like how she’s always positive, she always stays positive,” said Brooke Bowers.
Olympic gold medalist @ktnago13 receives a big ovation from her hometown of Olmsted Falls. #OlympicGames #Ohio @SpectrumNews1OH pic.twitter.com/p5pJmrY53S
— Ryan Schmelz (@rschmelztv) August 13, 2021
Pole vaulters Brooke and Brie Bowers came to Olmsted Falls with their dad, Paul, all the way from Grand Rapids, Michigan, to see Katie Nageotte.
“It’s very important,” said Paul Bowers. “I think the whole sport needs it, it brings a lot of attention to the sport, especially just trying to grow pole vault, and with Katie bringing home the gold, that’s pretty important, and pretty special for the girls too to see that they can succeed too.”
Fans are signing a giant poster congratulating the Olympic gold medalist #Olympics #Ohio pic.twitter.com/eXrnJ3X25x
— Ryan Schmelz (@rschmelztv) August 13, 2021
As Olmsted Falls native Nageotte received a hero’s welcome, her fans were happy to see her make her hometown proud.
“We were screaming, our dogs were barking, it was chaos in our house for a minute, but yeah, it was so cool! Tears, tears of joy,” Olmsted Falls resident Kim Grueber said while remembering the moment Nageotte won gold.
After rain forced the event inside, her hometown showed it is proud to continue to support the champ.
“It’s the epitome of small town values,” said Marty Grueber. “The town rallied around her ever since her high school days.”
The rain didn’t stop Olmsted Falls from celebrating Olympic gold medalist Katie Nageotte #Ohio @SpectrumNews1OH #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/FtPXwJQxOR
— Ryan Schmelz (@rschmelztv) August 14, 2021
