Olympian Michelle Carter hoping to travel golden road to Rio

The street that runs alongside Red Oak High School bears Louise Ritter’s name. Ritter won the 1988 Olympic gold medal in the high jump.

The city of 11,245 in Ellis County might have to rename a street for Michelle Carter if things go as planned at next month’s Olympics. Carter, a three-time Olympian, travels to Rio de Janeiro in search of her first Olympic medal.

“We’re going to give it our best, and whatever happens, happens,” said her father and coach, Michael Carter. “We’re going to bring back something. What, we don’t know, but it’s going to be good.”

Carter, a 2003 graduate of Red Oak, received a spirited sendoff from her hometown Tuesday. There were red, white and blue cupcakes, a highlight video, American flags, cheerleaders, band members, “Team Shot Diva” T-shirts and a large crowd to honor Carter and wish her well.

“It means a lot to me to have everybody from my community to come out and support me, because Red Oak is a real small town,” Michelle Carter said, “and when one does good, we all do good. So I’m just glad everybody was able to come out tonight.”

She will take a part of Red Oak with her to Rio. Assistant superintendent Kevin Freels gave Carter a Red Oak Hawks pin to wear for luck. The finals of the shot put are Aug. 12.

“I’m really looking forward to bringing home a medal, preferably gold,” Michelle Carter said.

The University of Texas product finished 15th in 2008 and fifth in 2012. Her put of 64 feet, 3  1/4 inches that won her the Olympic Trials on July 7 ranks her fifth in the world.

Carter, who lives and trains in Ovilla, won the world indoor title in March.

She will try to one-up her father. Michael, more known for his three Super Bowl rings as a nose tackle for the San Francisco 49ers, won the silver medal at the Los Angeles Games in 1984.

“She has more experience now, and third time’s the charm I say,” Michael said. “She’s healthy. This is the healthiest she has been at any of her three Olympics, and she’s stronger. I’m looking for good things from her. This will be her best opportunity to come home with the big one.”

Michelle Carter reminisced about where her shot put career has taken her. But she never has forgotten her roots.

“It’s taken me so many places,” Carter said. “It’s taken me around the world. It got me a free education. But it all started here at Red Oak.”

Carter, 30, has no plans to call it quits after Rio. She has four more years in her, she insists.

“I’m going to go for one more,” Carter said. “Women shot putters can go for a long time, so I’m in my prime years right now. I feel like it’s not over yet. I’m just now getting into my groove and finding what works for me.”

This story was originally published July 19, 2016 at 9:27 PM with the headline "Olympian Michelle Carter hoping to travel golden road to Rio."