By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — Olympic silver medalist Julia Marino made a triumphant return to her elementary school Monday morning to share her experiences and answer questions

The Long Lots Elementary School entrance, walls and auditorium were decorated with homemade flags and posters in anticipation of the Westport snowboarder’s return after 15 years.

More than 500 excited students filed into the auditorium for a special gathering — the first event for the entire school body in two years because of COVID. 

Wiggling in their seats and sitting crisscross on the floor, the youngsters erupted into cheers when Marino’s former physical education teacher, Mark Carmody, introduced her as the Olympics theme played.

“Thank you so much for having me,” Marino said. “It’s so great to be back here.”

She was asked what it was like to come back after so many years — she’s now 24.

“It feels smaller, a lot smaller than when I was here,” she said. “I can’t believe it’s been about 15 years since I’ve been here.”

Two of her other teachers are still at the school — Jen Ackerman was her second-grade teacher, Pam Garra her fifth.

Marino was the first American to medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing during February. She won in the Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle. A video of her medal-winning run was shown on a big screen during the assembly.

“I still get goosebumps watching that video for sure,” Marino said. “It was a crazy moment, and especially to relive it, hearing all you guys cheering gives me such goosebumps. So I appreciate all the love for sure.”

Carmody noted the amount of support the Olympic snowboarders gave each other was not typical for competitive athletes. He said they seemed like a sisterhood.

“You don’t go to the Olympics hoping to get anything but the gold, obviously,” Marino said. “But it’s really important in the sport for us, especially because we’re all friends, to be there for one another. 

“I think that’s what makes it a lot more fun because it feels less lonely … you do a lot better when you have the support of your friends and knowing there are people behind you that want you to do well,” she added.

“It’s just important to be there for your friends when they do well,” Marino said. “So celebrate them even if they do better than you, always celebrate your friends. It’s super important.”

Carmody asked Marino a series of questions from students, among them, when did she get a phone.

She said she didn’t have one until seventh grade.

“I had a flip phone,” she said. “I know you don’t really see those anymore.”

Will she be going back to the Olympics?

Marino said she hadn’t planned that far yet, but the outlook is likely.

“My family is from Italy, where the next Olympics is, so I think it would mean a lot to them if I went,” she said. 

How many loopty loops can you do?

“I’ll count a loopty loop as a spin and a flip together,” she said. “On the snow I’ve done two loopty loops in a row.”

What would she do if she weren’t snowboarding?

“If I wasn’t snowboarding I would probably be filming my friends snowboarding,” she said. “I really like to take videos and photos, and edit them and stuff and make cool edits. I would probably be behind the camera.”

What was her favorite subject?

“P.E. was definitely my favorite, I loved sports, sports was my favorite one and then my second favorite was the art class,” she said.

Are you married?

“I am not married, no, I am enjoying my life, living my life,” Marino responded.

Favorite toy or video game?

“I do have the Nintendo Switch,” she said to cheers. “I really like Mario Kart.” More cheers.

Marino was given flowers, a proclamation and a banner celebrating her silver medal win was unfurled. It will hang high in the Long Lots gymnasium, Carmody said.