ROCHESTER — Rochester Olympian Gia Doonan returned to her home in Rochester on Thursday, Aug. 5, welcomed with a parade of emergency vehicles to escort her.

“It feels really good [to be back],” said Doonan. “As I was driving down the road [back to Rochester] I was just getting happier and happier.”

Doonan was part of the US Women’s Eight Rowing Team that came in fourth place at the Tokyo Olympics on July 29.

She arrived with one of her fellow USA rowers, Brooke Mooney, from New York after flying back from Tokyo.

Doonan was greeted by her mother and members of the Mattapoisett and Rochester Fire and Police Departments with whom she shared hugs and took pictures before getting back in the car to start the parade into Rochester.

The procession stopped to take pictures and wave to the crowd at Plumb Corner where an enormous American flag was hanging from a fire department ladder truck.

Despite the rain that continued throughout the homecoming parade, Rochester residents waved from their front porches as the procession went by. Some even congregated at Plumb Corner to share in the revelry of the moment.

“I’m just excited to be back,” said Doonan.