TOWSON, Md. – Tens of thousands of people lined York Road in the heart of Towson with digital cameras drawn and “Phelps Phan” signs in hand, excited to greet their hometown hero.
Then, the camouflage Humvee rolled down the street with a skinny 6-foot-4-inch frame poking through the sunroof. Decked in sunglasses, a colorful jacket and jeans – yet not sporting his eight gold medals from Beijing – Olympic hero Michael Phelps casually smiled and waved to the crowd. “Oh my gosh, there he is!”
“I can’t believe it, it’s him!”
“Go, Mike Phelps!”
Reporters and camera crews frantically chased his vehicle, police adamantly attempted to make the enthusiastic crowd back off and handfuls of teenage girls quivered and cried with joy as one of the most famous athletes in the world passed through the crowd. His car was the grand finale in Saturday’s “Parade of Gold,” which was held in Phelps’ hometown.
The parade served as the official homecoming for Phelps, even though he purchased a home in downtown Baltimore shortly after returning from Beijing. The parade also celebrated other local Olympians, including swimmer Katie Hoff, who won a silver and two bronze medals. The day’s events concluded with a “Star-Spangled Salute” to Phelps at Fort McHenry in Baltimore.
“It was great to see everybody in the community be so supportive of him,” said Heather Trageser, a sophomore from Towson High School, the same school where Phelps graduated in 2003 and was voted “Most Athletic” by his senior class. Trageser mentioned that, six years after his graduation, the high school still shows unparalleled pride for its Olympian with signs in the hallways and windows of the building.
“Sure, he’s a world-famous swimmer, but he’s also a real person to a lot of us. He grew up in this area, and we even know some of the same people,” said a Towson University student, who, upon seeing Phelps go by in the parade, began squealing with excitement and ran to snap pictures before providing her name.
It was estimated that more than 30,000 people attended the parade from across the world. Howie Harris, a 1971 graduate of Towson High School, made the five-hour drive from Wake Forest, N.C., early Saturday morning to witness the grand homecoming.
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” said Harris, who said he had friends from Georgia, Florida and even California flock to Towson for the event.
Harris tried to hand Phelps a T-shirt during the parade that read, “Deeper, Harder, Faster,” a motto Harris said reflects Phelps’s swimming style. “Hopefully, he gets it. Maybe he’ll wear it someday,” he said.
Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush, who hosted the “Star-Spangled Salute,” asked Phelps about his feelings on returning home after his string of numerous appearances on national television. Phelps instead took the opportunity to express his excitement for his hometown football team.
“Tomorrow is actually gonna be my first Ravens game this season, so I don’t know about you guys, but I’m looking forward to it,” Phelps answered, to a roar of applause from the Baltimore crowd. “Hey, [the] Ravens are my team.”
Phelps admitted he hasn’t worked out much at all since his record-setting performance in Beijing, but mentioned he will be working in the pool again by January or February.
But for now, Phelps, who looked noticeably relaxed and grateful to be back in his hometown during the night’s celebration, said he is just thankful to be back in the area where he grew up and spent much of his life.
“This is my home. This will always be my home,” Phelps said toward the end of the celebration. “I love being back here in Baltimore.”
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