A Midland High School alumna who led the U.S. women's freestyle relay team to a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics received a hero’s welcome on her recent visit.
Natalie Hinds said that earning a medal at the Olympic Games has been the highlight of her career.
"I think once I had the medal around my neck, this is my checkpoint for my whole swimming career," she told the Midland Reporter-Telegram. "That part was very overwhelming. I was sobbing, but nobody could tell because I had a mask on. But I was just savoring the moment. I was at the podium at the Olympics. Not a lot of people can say that, so it was really special.”
Team U.S.A. was able to secure the bronze in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the Tokyo Games with Hinds' help, according to Your Basin. Hinds anchored the Americans in the preliminaries and recorded a 53.28, which placed the U.S. fifth behind Australia, the Netherlands, Canada and Great Britain.
The 27-year-old Hinds was on hand at the rivalry game between Midland and Midland Legacy at Grande Communications Stadium, where she was once again honored. She is among the inductees into the Midland Independent School District's Hall of Legends.
While in Midland, Hinds was able to visit the city's COM aquatics facility, where she told young swimmers to keep chasing their dreams as she took pictures with them.