It was a hero's welcome for Central Otago gold medallist Finn Butcher as he returned to his old stomping ground today.
The 29-year-old Alexandra local went back to his former secondary school, Dunstan High, for a show-and-tell with students.
Butcher is Central Otago's first Summer Olympics gold medallist and reached top of the podium in the Kayak Cross in Paris.
He was welcomed into the school's gymnasium with a guard of honour with the help of canoe paddles.
Butcher told 1News: "It's pretty amazing to come back to Dunstan and connect back in."
The Olympic champion took questions from students and they got photos and selfies with the Olympic star and his medal.
Fourteen-year-old student Adeline Ball told 1News: "Meeting Finn, it was like, holy moly."
Her teammates won gold in the South Island secondary schools kayak polo competition last year.
Ball took the chance to compare accolades with their newest Olympic champion.
"My mum told me I should bring it because he won gold, I won gold."
Butcher's father Dale said they have been overwhelmed with messages from the community no matter where they go around the region.
"We've had people crying saying how much they enjoyed watching it, people we've hardly met or hardly know."
"I felt the support when I was over there and I've always tried to keep a good connection with the community here as well," Butcher said.
"Mum and Dad still live here and I call this place home, no matter how long I'm away from it," he said.
He's not Dunstan High's only medallist.
Nicole Shields brought home silver in the women's team cycling pursuit.
Both Olympians are celebrated in the school's Hall of Fame that was established at the school back in 1996.
Butcher's former PE teacher now relief teacher Alan Hamilton also received something extra for the collection — his Olympic singlet for the wall.
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"When you get an Olympic gold, you don't get better than that," he said.
When asked if it was worth the wait, he said, "worth the weight in gold".
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