2x Olympic Medalist Returns Home To Gaston County

GASTONIA – Family, friends and neighbors of a young olympic champion gathered at Caromont Health Park on Wednesday night to honor a real life superhero.

19-year-old Ranlo native Kaylyn Brown beamed with pride during a ceremony to honor her success during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Two medals hung around her neck as she spoke to the crowd.

“Getting to represent and knowing that USA trusted me to bring it home for them, it was such an amazing experience,” said Brown to the crowd. 

Ballpark staff tells me it was an honor to host their hometown hero Wednesday night.

“So, we figured, 19 years old, just won a silver and gold medal in the Olympics. Why not host an event right?” said event planner Noah Epstein.

Brown won gold in the women’s 4×400 relay and silver in the mixed 4×400 relay. Her first coach ever says Kaylyn has dreamed of that medal moment since she was little.

 “Seeing her as a four-year-old then watching her do AAU, USA track and field, and then going to Arkansas, and then just believing that she could be an olympian because she always wanted to be when she was a little girl,” say Cynthia Smith Perkins.

 Kaylyn’s aunt Sarah Saunders tells WCCB’s Emma Mondo what it was like to be in Paris and watch her niece win for team USA.

“Proud is an understatement. It doesn’t begin to describe it,” she said with emotion behind her voice. “Watching her give up certain things for training or things like that you know she definitely put in the work.”