Middletown Native In London Olympics

One day, while swinging on the monkey bars, Kayla Harrison, then a sixth-grader at Wildwood Elementary School, dropped this bomb on her good friend, Katy Banks.

“I’m gonna go to the Olympics and win a gold medal,” little Kayla told little Katy.

Sure, Katy thought at the time, and after that, you’re going to save the world and be president, too.

“I knew she was really good at judo,” Banks said Monday afternoon. “But the Olympics were a long way off and a lot can happen. Your life can take you in lots of different directions.”

Ten years after making that playground promise, Harrison delivered when she became the first American in history to win a judo gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

Harrison will return to Middletown today and visit with students in several schools in the district, attend a pep rally at the high school, and an evening of celebration with the community.

At 6 p.m., Harrison, 22, her family and her Middletown coach Darlene Wolfe will be escorted through the downtown streets of Middletown in a motorcade consisting of a police escort, fire truck and marching band. The motorcade will begin near the Post Office at the corner of Reinartz Boulevard and Verity Parkway and travel south on Verity turning right on Central Avenue, right on Main Street and right into the City Building driveway. Fans are encouraged to line the motorcade route with flags, signs and cheers while wearing red, white and blue, organizers said.

The evening program will begin at approximately 6:30 with music, skydivers, presentations and surprises, they said.

In case of inclement weather, the evening celebration will move to Grace Baptist Church near the Interate 75 Exit 32.

Banks, who attended the Olympics with her mother, Lisa Banks, whom Harrison refers to as “Momma Banks,” called watching the gold medal performance “definitely surreal.”

Since winning the gold, Harrison has made several appearance in and around Boston, where she trains since leaving Middletown. Banks said Harrison is excited about her first local appearance.

“She has support from around the world, but coming home is even bigger to her,” said Banks, 22, a senior at Ohio State University. “All of the people she has a real connection with are back home.”

In an e-mail to The Jounral, Harrison wrote: “I think all I would really like the Middies to know is that I am beyond excited to come home. I can’t wait to share this amazing moment with them. Middletown is my home and it is where my heart is. I’m looking forward to the celebrations and to meeting the next generation of amazing Middies!”

Her mother, Jeannie Yazell, who attended the Olympics, said she “can’t wait” to see her daughter. The last time they were together, Harrison was signing autographs in London.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2842 or rmccrabb@coxohio.com.

A schedule of events for Kayla Harrison’s homecoming celebration today

Throughout day: Visiting with Middletown City Schools students

1:30 to 2:15 p.m.: Pep rally, Middletown High School

6 p.m.: Motorcade through downtown Middletown

6:30 p.m.: Celebration, Donham Plaza in downtown Middletown