OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio — It has been a whirlwind journey for Katie Nageotte. Just last week the Olmsted Falls native won a gold medal in the women’s pole vault during the Tokyo Olympics.
Now, she’s back in Northeast Ohio and was the focus of a “welcome home” celebration Friday afternoon with a special meet-and-greet opportunity.
The celebration began with Nageotte given a firetruck escort from Village Green to Olmsted Falls High School. The public was invited to line the roads and cheer for Nageotte along the following route:
- Columbia Road between the Village Green and Bagley Road.
- Bagley Road from Columbia Road to just east of Olmsted Falls High School.
Organizers asked everybody to wear their red, white and blue.
Nageotte then participated in a meet-and-greet celebration at Olmsted Falls High School’s Charles A. Harding Memorial Stadium. The event also featured the Olmsted Falls High School marching band and cheerleaders. Despite rain, the atmosphere was still festive.
“For the safety and comfort of all guests, please refrain from bringing chairs, backpacks, large bags and pets,” organizers said in their event flyer. “Tobacco use, including e-cigarettes (vape pens) and alcohol is prohibited on school property.”
3News was at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to catch up with Nageotte after she landed Thursday.
"I can't even put it into words,” she said of the events from the last week. “And when I'm at a loss for words, you know that's something.”
Nageotte won gold after topping the pole vault bar at 4.9m.