6 Houston-area Olympians return home to Texas-sized welcome

'It woke me up,' one Olympian says

HOUSTON – Dozens of people joined a welcome-home celebration Tuesday for six local Olympians at Bush Intercontinental Airport.

“It woke me up and I instantly started smiling,” said diver Kassidy Cook.

Cook, from The Woodlands, had tough competition in Rio.

“It felt amazing to represent the U.S. in my first Olympics. I was so honored that I wasn't just diving for myself, that I was diving for my country,” said Cook.

Among seven siblings at the Summer Games, Courtney and Kelley Hurley, of San Antonio, represented USA fencing.

VIDEO: 6 Olympians arrive at Bush Airport

“She's always there for me," Kelley Hurley said. "When I need a coach, she's a coach. When I need a shoulder to cry on, she's a shoulder to cry on."

Sugar Land’s Steven Lopez returned to the Olympics for his fifth time.

“It's an opportunity God has given me, and it's an incredible experience just to be able to make the Olympic team,” said Lopez.

Inika McPherson, of Port Arthur, is known as the best high-jumper in the world.

“Just knowing that I'm now a part of that elite group of these Olympians, that's just incredible to me. I've been wanting to do that. I've been dreaming that ever since I was a little kid,” said McPherson.

Houston's Timothy Wang competed in table tennis.

“It's the best of the best, and being with so many different athletes from so many different sports, it's a huge honor to be one of them,” said Wang.

Gymnast Simone Biles, of Spring, is scheduled to return to Houston on Wednesday.


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