Some residents of the northern suburbs who watched the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics saw a familiar face: a world-class wrestler from their city.
Payton Jacobson’s friends and family gathered to watch Friday’s ceremony together in Lake Zurich and exploded when they saw their hometown hero.
“I’m wiping tears from my eyes,” Sheri Jacobson said. “It’s unreal.”
Payton sent photos home as he basked in the glory of representing the United States at the Olympic ceremonies.
Full of pride and understandably moved, all the participants applauded Payton.
“He started wrestling at 8 years old and he won the state championship at 8 years old,” said Payton’s sister, Laura Crost. “There’s something different about him. There’s something special about him.”
Payton graduated from Northern Michigan University in December, and the wrestler and his fans hope he will graduate with a medal.
“It’s amazing,” Crost said. “He worked so hard, and my kids look up to their cousin.”
As loved ones cheered on Payton, the French Consulate General was also celebrating Friday night.
“This is an exciting moment for us,” said Yannick Tagand, French consul general in Chicago.
As the athletes continue to enjoy Paris, Jacobson will travel an hour outside the city to train for his competition on August 7-8. Many of his family members will also be cheering him on from the sidelines.
NBC Chicago
