Olympic Gold Medalist Simone Biles Welcomed Home to Texas

(AP) – Fans waved American flags and cheered as Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles arrived home in Texas following the games in Rio de Janeiro.

The 19-year-old gymnast from Spring thanked the crowd Wednesday as part of the celebration at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

Mayor Sylvester Turner was among the dignitaries on hand and proclaimed Wednesday as “Simone Biles Day” in Houston. Turner presented Biles with a copy of the official proclamation, amid a backdrop of red, white and blue balloons arranged like a U.S. flag.

Biles – who won four gold medals in Rio – thanked the well-wishers and said she was “thrilled” at the reception.

A parade for Biles was planned later Wednesday in Spring, where her family operates a gymnastics center.