Donegal Olympian Kelly McGrory returned home to a hero’s welcome in Donegal Town after what she described as a dream summer at the Paris Olympics.

A crowd from the local area came to congratulate the Donegal sports star, who was surrounded by her friends, family, members of the Tír Chonaill Athletics Club and the teaching staff of the Abbey Vocational School on Friday evening.

“It’s incredible. I think emotional is the word I would use to describe this day. It’s just surreal,” McGrory said upon her return to the Abbey Vocational School in Donegal Town.

McGrory played a crucial role as part of the Irish women’s 4x400m relay team that reached the Olympic final, eventually finishing fourth. The Donegal Olympian also played a major role in leading the Irish team into the final after her runs in the early heats.

The Laghy woman was also accompanied on her return to Donegal by fellow Irish Olympian Thomas Barr, with former athlete and fellow Donegal Olympian Danny McDaid also in attendance to welcome McGrory home.

“As I stood at the side of the stage before I was welcomed, I had this flashback to years ago sitting at the school awards ceremony and everyone being called up to receive their awards, and now, ten years later, I’m standing at the side of the stage being named an Olympian… it’s a special feeling, it’s hard to comprehend,” she said.

As she looks back on her amazing summer, she is aware of the progress she has made and the setbacks she has overcome since the beginning of the year to get to where she is now.

“I never thought that something like this would happen to me. I don’t think back to my school days, but at the beginning of this year I had already decided to take part in the World Relays and the Indoors,” she admitted.

“But then I suffered a serious injury in January that put me out of action for two months and at that point I thought things weren’t going well and I didn’t have much time to get fit for the summer. Even when I came back, I suffered another injury and missed the European Championships.

This year has had a lot of ups and downs for me, but it came at the perfect time for me. I got my chance, I got my opportunity, and I’m just so happy to call myself an Olympian.

“The journey never goes smoothly. I think it’s been like that for me since I was a youngster at the club. But this year alone has been a crazy journey and I’m just so glad I stuck with it.”

For now, McGrory will enjoy her time off and take advantage of the opportunity before she starts training again in four weeks.

“I think it’s hard to reflect when you’re in the middle of the celebrations and honestly we’re still riding the wave at the moment even though we’re home now,” she said. “It’s been a week since I walked in Paris but it’s like we’re reliving the whole scene now with our family and friends at home.”

“I think in the next few weeks or months, it will all really sink in. I’ll start training again and do my review of the year and look at everything we’ve accomplished. Then I’ll probably be able to reflect on it better.”