Mount Vernon celebrates hometown Olympic gold medalist Rai Benjamin
Benjamin won two gold medals at the Paris Olympic games in the 400 meter hurdles and the 4 x 400 meter relay earlier this summer.
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Fresh off a pair of Olympic gold medals at the Paris games earlier this summer Mount Vernon native Rai Benjamin returned home for a massive celebration in his honor.
The day started at Mount Vernon High School where Benjamin graduated in 2015.
School officials added his name to the Wall of Fame and dedicated the high school's track in his honor.
“I never would have thought this was going to be the outcome for me but I’m just you know, really blessed and really happy that all these people are in my corner and I can bring some excitement and some hope and some inspiration to the people of Mount Vernon," Benjamin said.
Benjamin spent the rest of the morning riding on a motorcade to each of the district's 16 schools where he greeted students, former teachers and coaches.
In the afternoon, Mount Vernon officials gave Benjamin a key to the city and dedicated the plaza outside of the newly renovated Memorial Field in his name.
"At heart, he is still a Mount Vernon boy and he's an example for our young people," Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard
The city's young people are paying attention.
"I'm very excited because I've always wanted to see Rai Benjamin," Mount Vernon sixth-grader Savannah Jenkins said. "He inspired me to run track."
Benjamin won two gold medals earlier this year at the Paris Olympic games in the 400-meter hurdles and the 4 x 400-meter relay. He previously won gold and silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Benjamin called the day a whirlwind and reflected on his return to the place that raised him into one of the best athletes of his generation.
"The right community is here to foster that and nothing worth having comes easy," Benjamin said.
