Olympic gold medalist Shannon Vreeland receives Johnson County Achievement Award

OLATHE, Kan. - Add another honor for a Kansas City area Olympic gold medalist.

Johnson County commissioners honored Overland Park native Shannon Vreeland Thursday morning with the Johnson County Achievement Award. Vreeland wasn’t there in person, but she was able to Skype with commissioners during the ceremony from her dorm room at the University of Georgia.

The 21-year-old won a gold medal in the 4x200 meter relay at the Summer Olympics in London. Vreeland graduated from Blue Valley West High School and is a member of the Kansas City Blazers swim club team.

Vreeland’s parents accepted the award on their daughter’s behalf.

“It was great to see all the words the commissioners had to say about Shannon and all the appreciation for the hard work she’s put in over the years," Shannon’s mom, Connie, said. “I think she is as proud to be a Kansan as they are to have her as one."

Vreeland has a busy weekend coming up. She arrives in town on Friday evening and will be honored at halftime of the Blue Valley West-Blue Valley Southwest football game.

She will also be honored at a “Meet and Greet” with the Kansas City Blazers swim team on Saturday morning in Roeland Park. Then, she’ll head to Kansas Speedway where she will be the Honorary Starter for Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race.