'Jersey Girl' Olympian Welcomed Home from Sochi

A world-class athlete received a hometown welcome back from the Sochi Olympics.

At a Wayne Township Council meeting on March 19, Olympic bobsled driver Jazmine Fenlator was honored by the mayor, council, and community members for her achievements in Sochi.

“In 54 years, this is the first time I’ve ever had the honor of meeting an Olympian,” Mayor Chris Vergano said in a video of the council meeting posted on the township website, just before presenting Fenlator with a proclamation about her achievement.

“And, best of all, she’s from Wayne. It truly is an honor.”

Fenlator, who attended the meeting decked out in Sochi garb, said her hometown had a lot to do with her trip to the 2014 games.

“Words really can’t express how much my community has been there for me,” she told the council and a crowd of residents at the meeting.

“Going to the Olympics wasn’t necessarily just a personal goal, but a goal for me to represent Wayne, New Jersey.”

She added, "when the media asks me, 'what do you call yourself?'...I'm a Jersey Girl. And, when you have teammates from Miami, Florida, California, and New York City, they just don't get it. But, when I come home...you guys get it."

Fenlator and partner Lolo Jones nabbed an 11th place bobsled finish at Sochi.

“I walked away slightly disappointed in my performance,” Fenlator said at the meeting.

“But, what was amazing was when I got home and was finally able to read through all of the messages [I received from people], especially those from my hometown. It really put into perspective how much this wasn’t an accomplishment of just Jazmine Fenlator and her family, but it’s truly an accomplishment of Wayne township. And I couldn’t be more proud to represent not only the USA, but Wayne, New Jersey.”

And residents at the meeting said they were proud to be represented.

Township Boy Scouts presented Jazmine with a mural depicting her trip to the Olympics that will be displayed permanently at Ryerson Elementary School.

See the entire video of the council meeting here.