Back on home turf, Maddie Bowman, Jamie Anderson and Hannah Teter from South Lake Tahoe spent Saturday doing everything from autographing hundreds of posters to standing in front of thousands of cheering fans.
The "Golden Girls" are all glad to be home after the whirlwind they've been on since the 2014 Olympic Games. The celebration and parade held in South Lake Tahoe, Meyers and Sierra-at-Tahoe, their home ski resort, was the first time the three Olympians had been together since Sochi.
Anderson, 23, won her Olympic gold medal in the women's inaugural snowboard slopestyle competition. Bowman, 20, struck gold in the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe competition at Sochi, also her first. Teter, 27, was a 2006 Olympic gold and 2010 Olympic silver medalist in the women's snowboarding halfpipe. Teter finished fourth at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in the halfpipe event.
"My life has been crazy since I've been back from Russia," said Bowman during a pre-parade interview Saturday. "I'm so grateful to be back home."
"I love Tahoe," added Teter. "I came back to refresh, get some fresh pow and get ready to compete again."
"I've been on the road for a long time so it's great to be back home," said Anderson. "I'm going to unwind, enjoy nature and enjoy family. There have been some crazy opportunities with winning a gold medal and I'm looking forward to hanging out in Tahoe for the summer."
All three women expressed their gratitude and the support they've received from the community.
"This is my home," said Bowman. "I love it here. I went through public schools here so I know a lot of people. I couldn't have asked for a better playground."
Anderson expressed similar feelings. "Tahoe has a special place in my heart," she said. "Growing up in Meyers, and now living in South Lake Tahoe, I really enjoy the area ... It feels great to be back here with my friends and family."
Of the three being honored, Teter is the only one who didn't grow up in South Lake Tahoe. The Vermont native visited Meyers 12 years ago after her brother moved to the community. They went boarding at Sierra-at-Tahoe and she was amazed by the fresh powder and the "super friendly people" so she moved to Meyers in 2004.
Bowman summed up her feelings about the turnout for the celebration, "Tahoe has always been special to me and to know everyone has turned out for this is incredible."