Olympian Shannon Vreeland comes home to OP with gold medal

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - An Olympic champion returned home, proudly showing off her gold medal.

A party was held Friday night in honor of Shannon Vreeland at her Overland Park, Kan., home.

The Blue Valley West High School graduate won the gold in the third leg of the 4x200 meter swimming relay.

Vreeland is a junior at the University of Georgia majoring in international relations and economics.

She said she is still getting used to the new stardom.

"I've taken quite a few pictures, and it's cool getting kind tweets. People are saying, sometimes scared to say anything, so people tweet, 'Just walked by Shannon Vreeland' or something on the sidewalk, and it's hashtag Olympic gold medalist," she explained.

Shannon will be spending the weekend with her friends and family celebrating her gold medal. She will get the chance to meet President Obama next month.

Vreeland will also wave the flag at the NASCAR race at the Kansas Speedway in October.

She said she is already thinking about the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.