While Lolo Jones naturally garnered all the attention among the women on the U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team during the Sochi Games, her teammate quietly used the time as therapy.
Driver Jazmine Fenlator, who teamed with Jones to finish in 11th place at the Winter Olympics in February, returned home to a hero's welcome earlier this week in Wayne, New Jersey, northjersey.com reported.
Wayne Mayor Chris Vergano spoke at a ceremony honoring the 28-year-old Fenlator, who received a proclamation from the township and a replica gold medal that she quickly put around her neck, northjersey.com reported.
The event may have been the final moments of Fenlator's diversion from her tumultuous personal life.
According to the newspaper's website, Fenlator lost five family members while training for the Olympics. Hurricane Irene wrecked her family's home, her mother Suzie is suffering from Lupus, which has led to a heart attack and multiple strokes.
Fenlator also has mountain financial issues. Her mother's medical bills are mountain, and her car is in need of repair, according to the report. She acknowledged feeling as if she were ushered back to reality with the end of the Olympics.
"You know being back home now, it kinda feels like the bubble I was in has popped," Fenlator said. "But at the same time there is a certain feeling of pride being back in my home town again
A Cub Scout pack unveiled a four by eight foot mural of Fenlator that will hang in her elementary school in Wayne. The mural includes an adage used by Fenlator to get her through the Olympic Games: "Life is going to hand you a million obstacles, you just have to figure out how to overcome them."
In addressing the crowd, Fenlator expressed her appreciation for her community's support and talked of her pride in her hometown.
"I'm so glad I can be an inspiration to you all because you were certainly a big support of me," she said, according to northjersey.com. "This town is where I call home. It's been a running joke when people ask where I'm from. Even though I've trained all over the place, I always say, 'I'm proud to be a Jersey girl.' "
So while Jones tweeted pictures from an island vacation spot and from New Orleans Pelican Anthony Davis' 21st birthday party, her bobsled partner has found her post-Olympic experience to be somewhat more somber.
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