The Upper Peninsula may be known for its copper and iron deposits, but now it’s also home to some gold.
Olympic snowboarder Nick Baumgartner won gold in the mixed team snowboard cross event alongside Lindsey Jacobellis.
Iron River and other communities in the U.P. celebrated his homecoming Monday.
All it took was driving through Iron River to feel the pride the small town holds for Baumgartner.
Business marquees were changed to congratulations and thank you’s like the one outside Ace Hardware that read “Nick, thanks for bringing GOLD to the U.P.”
In the downtown area, homemade signs lined the sidewalks with references to Nick, Gold, and USA.
West Iron County Schools were let out early Monday so students could prepare for the parade to welcome home their Olympian.
Community members stood out on the sidewalks waiting for the parade in single degree temperatures.
At the end of the parade route at the High School many of the people gathered started wondering what was taking so long as they waited for nearly an hour for a parade route that was only a mile long.
The answer became clear when they first saw Baumgartner making his way down the street.
Rather than riding in the back of the pickup truck set up for him, Baumgartner was walking the route with his dog Oakley.
Stopping every couple of feet to hug, shake hands, and take pictures with the community that has supported him on his journey to Olympic Gold.
After the parade, community members gathered in the High School gym.
The gym walls were covered with more handmade posters, the most prominent of which read “Once a Wykon, Always a Wykon.”
Then the lights dropped low, and a spotlight was shown on Baumgartner and his 17-year-old son Landon as they made a lap around the gym floor.
After the National Anthem and in between cheers, Baumgartner spoke to the crowd.
“It means so much to me to be able to bring this home to you,” he said.
At 40 years old, Baumgartner was one of the oldest athletes to compete in this year’s Winter Olympics.
It was his 4th Olympic appearance.
His first event of the Beijing OIympics was individual men’s snowboard cross event.
A small mistake in the quarterfinals kept him from advancing and led to this emotional interview after the race.
"I'm 40-years-old, I'm running out of chances...I ain't stopping on this. I've gotta do something better to end with."
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 10, 2022
An emotional Nick Baumgartner pledges to keep going after he was eliminated in the quarterfinals of his 4th Olympics. pic.twitter.com/8PXW3zoC4d
Baumgartner talked about the interview to crowd gathered in his old High School.
“I’m glad you got to it cause that’s what we do. We go out there. We give it everything we got. We put everything on the line chasing greatness and sometimes we fall short,” said Baumgartner.
He said at that time, it wasn’t 100% certain that he’d be competing in the mixed event.
“I mean I should have known, if I would have paid attention, I probably would have,” he said with a laugh.
Baumgartner was paired with Lindsey Jacobellis for the event.
At 36 years old, she was also one of the oldest snowboarders competing and had won gold in her individual event earlier in the week.
“I knew right away that because of our experience and our age that Lindsey and I would be competing together,” said Baumgartner.
Unlike his first event, Baumgartner said he was lighter heading into the mixed race. He was smiling, laughing, and enjoying himself.
That made all the difference.
The two made history.
They won the first ever mixed team snowboard cross competition to be held at any Winter Games.
Baumgartner got emotional as he talked about it taking 17 years to make his Olympic Gold Medal dreams a reality.
That’s the message he wanted his family, friends, and community to take home with them.
“It’s important to live life on your own terms and to have fun, as much fun as you can. I hope this story shows that it’s possible,” said Baumgartner.
As USA chants closed out Baumgartner’s speech, the crowd moved toward him for more hugs and pictures.
And to thank him for making his hometown proud and bringing a little gold to Iron River.
