NEENAH, Wis. (NBC 26) -- Some of the best athletes from around the world are in Tokyo for the Olympics. And one is from right at home in Northeast Wisconsin.
Dozens of friends and family members came out to Downtown Neenah Friday night to support an Olympian who was born and raised in the Fox Valley.
Friends and family are getting ready to cheer on Neenah native Maddie Wanamaker in women’s four rowing tonight at Greene’s Pour House. #Olympics pic.twitter.com/1elIZiq5Mx
— Ben Bokun (@ben_bokun) July 24, 2021
And they all got to see Maddie Wanamaker in her first Olympic appearance.
"She was a soccer kid and a cross country kid and did track and was never like the best kid on the team, but always a good athlete," Wanamaker's father Tom said.
Now the Neenah native is one of the most elite athletes in the world.
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"Even doing show choir is something that just kind of gave her some toughness," Tom Wanamaker said.
Maddie Wanamaker is currently in Tokyo as a member of the women's four rowing team. Her parents hosted a watch party at Greene's Pour House to watch Maddie's first heat.
"The whole community has been really great just supporting her and letting her know how much they care about her," Tom said. "And we're really proud of her, we all are."
Maddie's mother Janet says her daughter beat odds on her way to the Olympics.
"Our community of Neenah has made a big deal about Maddie and the Olympics, because it is a big deal," Janet said. "I just want her to be in the finals and have a chance at the medal."
As a 2017 UW-Madison graduate, Maddie didn't start rowing until she walked on her college team.
"I had a feeling it might be her sport," Janet said. "So I like to be like 'got that one right.'"
Though her team didn't secure first place on Friday night, the Neenah community is proud.
"It is kind of a once in a lifetime opportunity and you never know if you're gonna get it again," Janet said.
"She's come through a lot, definitely gone through a trial," Tom said. "And I think we've got the best crew out there to go and compete."
Maddie and Team USA will have one more chance to make it to the final on Saturday night at 11 p.m. Nearly two dozen athletes with ties to the Badger State are part of the summer games.
