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Photos: Crowds in Arlington give Olympic gold medalist Torri Huske a hero’s welcome

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Photos: Crowds in Arlington give Olympic gold medalist Torri Huske a hero’s welcome

Photos: Crowds in Arlington give Olympic gold medalist Torri Huske a hero’s welcome

Crowds of cheering fans flocked to the Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center on Sunday to celebrate the triumphant return of Olympic gold medalist Torri Huske.

“This Olympics has been an incredible experience,” said Huske, who returned to Arlington from Paris with three gold medals and two silver medals in swimming events. “It was a great honor to represent not only my country, but all of you. And I wanted you to know that while this medal, or all of these medals, are mine, a small part of it is yours too – because Arlington helped make me the person I am today.”

The Yorktown High School graduate, who won gold in the 100-meter butterfly this year after narrowly missing a medal in the same event at the Tokyo Olympics, encouraged young athletes to persevere and never lose sight of their goals.

“Even if your dreams don’t come true immediately, that doesn’t mean they’re completely unattainable,” she told the crowd.

In an interview with ARLnow, Huske recalled the heartache she felt in 2021 when she learned she had missed a bronze medal by a full 0.01 seconds.

“It was so close and I almost had it in my fingertips – and then it just slipped away,” she said. “I remember finishing the race, and you work your whole life towards that moment, and then it’s just gone. And I remember thinking something like, ‘Oh my God. I can’t believe it, it’s over. I can’t do it again.'”

Despite the support of her fans and family and the accomplishment of finishing fourth in an Olympic event and winning a silver medal in a relay event at age 18, Huske said, “It was devastating.”

“I remember there was a big welcoming event at my elementary school after the airport,” she said. “There were so many people there and it was nice, but it was definitely overwhelming, especially because I felt like I had failed.”

Returning from Paris feels completely different. Huske still gets goosebumps when she thinks about her victory on July 28, when she beat fellow American Gretchen Walsh by 0.04 seconds.

“It’s just a feeling you can’t really describe – like when you’ve been working towards something for so long, especially when you were so close the last time,” she said. “I just wanted it so badly. I’ve never wanted anything more in my life.”

Huske said she barely slept that night, she was so happy. She even had to stop watching videos of the race over and over because she was so excited.

Now, just before the start of the semester at Stanford University, Huske is back in her hometown and wants to not only bask in her successes, but also do something good for the community that helped her become the athlete she is today.

After addressing the crowd, Huske settled in for a long afternoon of autographs and photos with hundreds of young Arlington residents. Children under 18 had the chance to hold the swimmers’ medals and pose for photos before meeting the most decorated Olympian of the 2024 Games.

Numerous elected officials from local government were also present.

Participants were asked to donate canned goods and other non-perishable foods to the Arlington Food Assistance Center.

“I want to thank the community of Arlington – all of you – because you have given me so much, and that’s why I wanted to give back in my own way today,” Huske said.

The swimmer is especially grateful to Evan Stiles, the competitive swimming coach at the Arlington Aquatic Club, as well as her former teammates, her parents, her teachers and all other role models and supporters who have helped her along the way.

“I want people to know that if you find something you love and work hard at it, you can go further than you ever imagined,” Huske told the crowd. “Because I never thought I would be standing here in this position. I feel like I’ve always been like this – I’ve been just like you guys.”

“I looked up to my idols like Katie Ledecky and Maya DiRado, and yes, they really inspired me,” she continued. “And I hope that I can inspire you a little bit here today.”

  • Daniel Egitto

    Dan Egitto covers a wide range of topics at ARLnow, with a particular focus on county government news and development. Originally from Central Florida, he graduated from Duke University and previously worked as a reporter for the Palatka Daily News in Florida and the Vallejo Times-Herald in California. Dan joined ARLnow in January 2024.

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