Olympic gold medalist Melanie Margalis received a warm, patriotic homecoming at Tampa International Airport Wednesday morning.

"I'm feeling a lot of love right now," said Melanie, 24, after she stepped off the plane from Rio.

  • Melanie Margalis was part of the winning 4x200 meter freestyle team
  • The swimmer graduated from Countryside High and trained in St. Pete
  • A humble Olympian, Margalis checked her medal in her luggage

The Countryside High School graduate was part of the team that got the United States into the final, earning her a gold for the 4x200 meter freestyle relay.

"It was really exciting,” said Melanie. “Just being on that relay for the U.S. is something that I never thought that would happen, so just being on it was such an honor and to be on it with the girls that I was with was really exciting."

Back at home, family and friends watched anxiously as the Olympic champion who trained at St. Petersburg Aquatics and placed fourth in the 200 meter individual medley swam her way through Rio.

"We’re just so happy for her," said Caryn Margalis, Melanie's mom, "because she just worked so hard for years to get to this point and she finally did it."

Fans lined up to take pictures with the accomplished athlete. Everyone was excited to see the gold medal.

"I can’t wait to hold it,” said mom-Margalis.

But everyone had to wait. Melanie packed the gold medal in her checked luggage.

"Apparently, I was like the only person that put theirs in their suitcase," laughed Melanie.

So, while Melanie talked with reporters, her mother searched through her daughter’s luggage looking for gold.

"It’s so typical for me to not have it when people all want to see it,” said Margalis. “I don’t know why anyone’s surprised."

Mom finally found the medal that represents so much.

"After I was done swimming," recalled Melanie, "I kind of thought about all the hard work and sacrifice, especially this year all the sacrifices that have gone into it and having the Olympics that I had and being able to even make it, it really was all worth it."

After taking time off, the gold medalist is already looking ahead. Olympics 2020, Melanie says she'll see you there.