Elizabeth Beisel at her home coming. Photo by Liz Burke

Olympic medalist Elizabeth Beisel is welcomed home to RI

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Posted: 8/8/2012 10:55:17 PM
Updated: 8/9/2012 8:05:10 AM

Olympic medalist and North Kingstown native Elizabeth Beisel was met with cheers from hundreds of fans at her home coming on Wednesday night.

 “I didn’t really know what to expect coming into tonight and getting out of the limo and just walking in and seeing the crowd and seeing how many people were actually, like, excited to see me… it’s amazing and I just can’t put it into words right now,” said Beisel.

Former classmates, teachers and friends spoke fondly of Beisel, saying she was always destined for greatness.

“We knew she was something special, she was breaking URI pool records when she was 13 years old,” said North Kingstown High School Athletic Director Howard Hague.

“We just always knew she was going to do great, and seeing her seated and favored at this level is awesome,” said Bradley Brown who swam with Elizabeth Beisel when they were children.

When told that children at the event were calling her their hero, Beisel couldn’t believe it.

“It’s just so crazy to me that people look up to me. I don’t see myself as anybody special, I just have fun with what I do and, to her, I guess just believe in yourself cause I never really thought I would be here right now. So anybody can do it if I can do it for sure,” said Beisel.

Beisel said that if she is still fast enough she will definitely swim in the Olympics again. She said she now has a bronze and a silver so next time she’ll be going for gold.

Liz Burke| WPRO News