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Photos: Arlington crowds deliver hero’s welcome to Olympic gold medalist Torri Huske

By Dan Egitto
1/10

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

“This Olympics was such an amazing experience,” said Huske, who returned home to Arlington from Paris with three gold medals and two silver medals in swimming events. “It was such an honor representing not only my country, but all of you. And I wanted to let you know that as much as this medal, or all of these medals, are mine, a little piece of it also belongs to you guys — because Arlington helped make me the person I am today.”

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

“Even though your dreams don’t happen immediately, doesn’t mean that they’re completely denied,” she told he crowd.

In an interview with ARLnow, Huske recalled the heartbreak she felt in 2021 when she found out she had fallen short of a bronze medal by all of 0.01 seconds.

“It was so tight, and it was almost in my fingertips — and then it just, it all slipped away,” she said. “I remember finishing the race, and like, you work your whole life for that moment, and then it’s just gone. And I remember thinking something like, ‘Oh my God. I can’t believe, like, it’s over. Like, I don’t get a redo.”

Despite the support of fans and loved ones and the accomplishment of placing fourth in an Olympic event at 18 years old, as well as a silver medal in a relay event, Huske said, “it was devastating.”

“I remember after the airport, they had a huge greeting at my elementary school,” she said. “There were so many people who came out, and it was nice, but it was definitely overwhelming, especially since it felt kind of like I failed.”

Coming back from Paris feels completely different. Huske still gets goosebumps thinking about her victory on July 28, when she edged out fellow American Gretchen Walsh by 0.04 seconds.

“It’s just a feeling you can’t really describe — like, when you’re working for something for so long, especially when you were so close to it last time,” she said. “I just, I wanted it so badly. Like, 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 rewatching videos of the race because she would get so excited.

Now back in her hometown before the semester starts at Stanford University, Huske said she doesn’t just want to bask in her accomplishments. She also wants to benefit the community that helped her become the athlete she is.

After addressing the crowds, Huske settled in for a long afternoon of signing autographs and posing for pictures with hundreds of young Arlingtonians. Children under 18 got the chance to hold the swimmer’s medals and pose for photos before meeting the most decorated female Olympian in the 2024 games.

A number of local elected officials were also in attendance.

Attendees were encouraged to drop off canned goods and other nonperishable food for the Arlington Food Assistance Center.

“I’d like to thank the Arlington community — so, all of you guys — because you’ve given me so much, and that’s why today I wanted to give back in a little way that I could,” said Huske.

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

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

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

About the Author

  • Dan Egitto is an editor and reporter at ARLnow. Originally from Central Florida, he graduated from Duke University and previously reported at the Palatka Daily News in Florida and the Vallejo Times-Herald in California. Dan joined ARLnow in January 2024.