With two Olympic bronze medals in her luggage, snowboarder Meryeta O'Dine arrived back in Prince George to a hero's welcome on Tuesday.
About 60 friends, family and fans -- some wearing Team Canada hockey jerseys and others with signs welcoming her home -- greeted her with enthusiastic cheers and hugs as she made her way into the arrivals area at the airport.
It was only a matter of time before she pulled out the hardware - both hefty pieces and both representing the first time a Prince George athlete has won an Olympic medal.
The big question? Did she come home with some bruises to go with those bronzes as a result of a spectacular collision during the mixed team snowboard cross event?
"No, no bruises. I've very definitely glad I have a very good helmet and back protector," O'Dine said.
Caterina Carpano of Italy took too much air while negotiating a jump and went sideways and landed on top of O'Dine's shoulder. The Canadian managed to get on her feet and, after a quick bear crawl up the next incline, made her way down the course to a third place finish about five seconds ahead of Carpano.
"Team events, there's always crashing and bashing going on for sure. Super-fun event but definitely stressful because you're either hunting or being hunted," O'Dine said.
O'Dine and Eliot Grondin of Sainte-Marie, Que., represented Canada in the mixed snowboard cross after respectively landing bronze and silver in the women's and men's solo events. In the mixed team, Grondin finished third in the final and waited nervously at the bottom for O'Dine to do her part.
O'Dine will be in the city until February 28 before she heads back to Vancouver for a training camp and then off to Europe for more races. It's the first time she's been back in Prince George in five months.
"I'm very excited for some A&W, I'm very excited to see my friends and have some downtime with them a little bit," she said.
There will also be a bit more Olympic-themed festivity before she leaves.
O'Dine will be the guest of honour at Prince George’s Olympic Celebration on Sat., Feb. 26 at Canada Games Plaza, 1 p.m. start. The event will feature music, local food, opportunities to meet local Olympians, and other festivities.
