Parade for local Olympians planned in Newport Beach on Sept. 12

They captivated the nation with their performances in Tokyo.

Now, some local Olympians will be honored close to home, in Newport Beach.

A parade and celebration for some Orange County Olympians is scheduled Sept. 12. County Supervisor Katrina Foley is planning the parade for athletes in her district, which includes Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and some of Fountain Valley.

“Orange County, and especially District 2, sends many American athletes to the Summer Olympics,” Foley said in a text message.

“This year we saw many Orange County women athletes on the podium. These athletes trained and competed during a pandemic under extraordinary challenges. The positive can-do spirit of all our local Olympians deserves celebrating, so I decided to host a parade so the entire community can share in the celebration.”

The parade is expected to include several members of the Olympic women’s water polo team, which won its third straight gold medal in Tokyo.

Gold medalists from the district include Olympic women’s water polo MVP Maddie Musselman, who went to Corona del Mar High School, as well as Newport Harbor High product Kaleigh Gilchrist and Edison High alumna Alys Williams.

Costa Mesa resident April Ross, a Newport Harbor High alumna who won her first beach volleyball gold medal in Tokyo with partner Alix Klineman, is also expected to attend.

Kaleigh Gilchrist, shown shooting during an exhibition match against Canada in May, won her second gold medal in Tokyo.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

Michele Mullen, who has been helping Foley with the logistics of the celebration, said the parade is planned to start near the Balboa Pier at 9 a.m. on Sept. 12. It will head north on the Balboa Peninsula and end at the American Legion Newport Harbor Post 291 around 11 a.m.

The American Legion is providing hot dogs and beverages for those who attend, Mullen said. There will be a celebration, including speeches by the local athletes, at the adjacent Veterans Memorial Park.

Foley’s office has reached out to other locals, including Newport Beach native Luca Cupido and Huntington Beach’s Alex Wolf.

Each were members of the Olympic men’s water polo team, which placed sixth in Tokyo.

Mullen said she has also put in a call to Kanoa Igarashi, a Huntington Beach native who won silver for Japan in the inaugural Olympic men’s surfing event, and Charlie Buckingham, another Newport Beach native who sailed in the Olympics.

Newport Beach Mayor Brad Avery, who was invited by Foley to the parade, said it sounds like a great event. Avery and the rest of the Newport Beach City Council honored Musselman and Williams at Tuesday night’s council meeting.

“That we can find something like that to celebrate, it’s just so awesome,” Avery said. “They represented our country and our community so well, so I’m all for it.

“I think it’s important to remember the dedication, all the time and the incredible effort just to be selected to be an Olympian. Then all that goes into actually being in the Olympics and performing at your highest level, it’s just a culmination of peak mind and body. Very few people ever get to that level. They’re great role models, obviously.”

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