Hundreds of students lined the hallways at Boothbay Region Elementary School leading to the gymnasium, applauding enthusiastically as a local hero walked in November 9.

This hero was Ellie Logan, a two-time Olympic gold-medal rowing champion. 

After being introduced by Superintendent of Schools Eileen King, Logan spoke to the students from both Boothbay Region elementary and high schools. She advised students to “put everything you have into everything you do.”

A local student asked Logan questions the students wanted to know. They varied from which country had the best food (China, including unusual foods like duck and sea cucumber), her best memory from growing up in Boothbay (playing basketball for her coach, Mr. Deetjen), how many hours she had to practice (4 to 8 hours a day, sometimes more), and if she still had a guinea pig (currently on the search for a new one).

When she was asked what her next plan was, she said “maybe I should keep going. Who wouldn’t want to go to Rio?” The next summer Olympic Games, in 2016, are being held in Rio de Janeiro. Logan asked the assembled students if she should go.

Thunderous applause, stamping feet and shouts of “yes” answered her.

Logan passed around her gold medal to students so they see and touch it. The first two students to look at it were second-graders James Reynolds and Grace Campbell.

“It’s really cool,” Campbell said, “and really heavy.” 

“It’s neat,” Reynolds said. When asked if they knew gold medals were made of gold, both their eyes got really big.

“I want a gold angel!” Campbell said. The angel is embossed on the front of Logan’s medal.

Today a gold Olympic medal only contains about 6 grams of gold, with the rest being mostly silver. The Olympic Games have not handed out solid gold medals since the 1912 summer games in Stockholm, Sweden.

Logan arrived at the school in style, riding on top of a local fire truck after parading through town, where cheering townspeople lined the streets. During the parade the group stopped to place an addition to the “Welcome to Boothbay Harbor” sign at the Boothbay/Boothbay Harbor town line. Now, right underneath is another sign that reads “Home of Ellie Logan, Rowing Olympic Gold Medalist.”

One of Logan’s best friends, Miranda Sherman, rode on top of the fire truck with her.

“She called me last night and begged me to ride with her,” Sherman said. “She very down-to-earth, and doesn’t think winning the gold is that big of a deal.”

Sherman and Logan have been friends since they were five years old, attending Boothbay Region Elementary School and playing basketball together.

Sherman misses Logan when she is away, which is often. “We keep in touch through Facebook, and she’s really good about answering messages,” Sherman said. “She always lets us know when she’s coming home, even if it’s just for a short trip.”

Sherman said she is saving money to watch Logan compete in the next summer Olympic Games in 2016.

Click here for video and a photo album of the parade.

Katrina Clark can be reached at 207-633-4620 or katrinaclark@boothbayregister.com. Follow her on Twitter: @BBRegisterClark or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BBRegisterKatrinaClark.