Thousands of people, many chanting “U-S-A” and waving American flags, welcomed Middletown’s Kayla Harrison back home Tuesday night following a daylong celebration.

People lined the streets and cheered when Harrison — riding on the back of a convertible with her family — appeared in a parade route in downtown Middletown, showing off her Olympic medal and bright smile.

Harrison became the first American to win a judo gold medal when she won her final match at the 2012 London Olympics on Aug. 2. She was born and raised in Middletown until she moved to Boston when she was 16 to continue her training.

Harrison, 22, who lives near Boston with her fiance, Aaron Henry, 29, a 2001 Fairfield High School graduate and firefighter, told the crowd of about 2,000 there were times during her Olympic quest that she thought about quitting. She described it as “a long, long journey.”

Then she looked out at the sun-splashed crowd and said: “It was worth it.”

During several visits to Middletown schools during the day, Harrison gave words of inspiration to students and encouraged them to set high goals and give everything they had to achieve them.

“I’m living proof it can happen,” she told a group of students.

The ceremony also offered a surprise when legendary basketball player and Middletown native Jerry Lucas was called to the stage with Harrison. Lucas, who won a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics as a member of the men’s basketball, hugged Harrison and handed her a bouquet of flowers.

Mayor Larry Mulligan announced the city was erecting signs at entrances welcoming visitors to Middletown, home of two Olympic champions.

The signs will be the first in Middletown recognizing Lucas, who won back-to-back state high school championships, a national title at Ohio State, an Olympic gold medal and a NBA championship.

Lucas said he watched Harrison’s gold medal match, a 2-0 victory over Britain’s Gemma Gibbons, and after she won, he realized they shared two things: Olympic gold medals and their hometown.

During the 45-minute ceremony, Duane Gordon, executive director of the Middletown Community Foundation, announced that the Kayla Harrison Scholarship Fund, valued at $10,000, will be presented every year beginning with this senior class. The scholarship will be presented to a local senior who displays Harrison’s characteristics, “strength, determination and inspiration,” Gordon said.

Also, Walmart announced that a $5,000 donation was being made in Harrison’s honor to Hope House, Middletown’s homeless shelter.

Mark Kerns, a Middletown High School teacher who organized the event, called Tuesday “a day in history for Middletown.”

The Butler County Commission declared Tuesday “Karla Harrison Day” in the county. She also received the inaugural “Higher Degree Award” presented by Suncoke; a hard hat from AK Steel; a badge that made her an honorary employee at Atrium Medical Center in Middletown, where several of her relatives work; baseball hats and T-shirt from the Middletown police and fire departments; several proclamations and a gold key to the city.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2842 0r rmccrabb@coxohio.com.