THE LAST WORD:

When athletes win gold at the Olympics — especially if it’s multiple gold medals — they sometimes come out looking larger than life.

Still, behind all the glory, every champion is a hometown hero somewhere. Thursday morning, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won their second consecutive gold medals in women’s beach volleyball, prevailing in a pair of tight sets against China. That was a repeat of their performance in Athens four years ago, when they also took the gold without losing a set.

As sports commentators around the world speculated on the duo’s chances before Thursday, an expert of a different kind spoke to the Daily Pilot about May-Treanor. Dan Glenn, who coached the Olympic star at Newport Harbor High School, remembered her not as the icon she undoubtedly is to many aspiring athletes, but as a hardworking, competitive and often funny girl who showed signs of greatness.

“She came in as a freshman and was on varsity as a freshman,” Glenn said. “I have been really lucky to have the great athletes that I’ve had at Harbor. She was just a phenomenal athlete.”

This week, the world is celebrating May-Treanor’s victory — but we doubt anyone is quite as proud as the staff at Newport Harbor that watched her come of age. To all of them, we extend our congratulations.