Homer cyclist Kristen Faulkner arrives home an Olympic champion

Kristen Faulkner stepped into the concourse Friday at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport with a grin that stretched ear to ear — and some extra-special carry-on luggage.

Faulkner, a two-time gold medal-winning cyclist at this summer’s Paris Olympics, had barely set foot on the staircase before chants of “USA! USA!” started from the assembly of friends, family and fans waiting below.

“I’m so happy to be home finally,” she said before exchanging hugs with family members.

Faulkner, who was born and grew up in Homer, was making her first trip back to Alaska since winning the gold medals in August. The reception at the airport was an emotional reunion with many in the small crowd decked out in red, white and blue.

“I want to cry,” she said. “It’s so special. I think, you know, being from Alaska you feel like the whole state is your community. ... Alaska is a small state, community-wise. And just to feel like I was in Paris with the whole backing of my home. I feel like I’m racing for something bigger than myself too.”

She even brought out her two gold medals to show well-wishers and onlookers, taking pictures and letting fans feel the heft of the medals.

Her parents — Sara and Jon Faulkner — were in Paris for the Summer Games but hadn’t seen their daughter since. They’ve had time to digest the accomplishments in the ensuing months and were excited to have her home for the holidays.

“It wasn’t real there,” Sara Faulkner said. “This is real, bringing her home.”

A professional road cyclist, Faulkner was a late addition to the U.S. road racing team and shocked the cycling world by winning the gold medal under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Days later, she earned a second gold as a member of the American team pursuit squad.

Sara Faulkner said that even as they spoke to their daughter the day before the road race, she wasn’t certain whether she’d compete, opting to focus all of her energy into the team pursuit, an event where the Americans were likely to be in medal contention.

“When we talked to her Saturday, she still wasn’t sure,” Sara Faulkner said. “We just tried to calm her down. We said, ‘We can’t tell you what to do. You know what you’ve been trained for. It’s all depends on what you feel like.’ She’s like, ‘I feel like I can do well and even possibly win the race.’ Well, then that’s your answer.”

The months since her Olympics wins have gone by quickly, but Kristen Faulkner said she’s ready to get back to the racing season starting early in 2025.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” Faulkner said. “A lot of cameras and interviews, but really great. I’ve been doing a lot of speaking events and hopefully inspiring more youth to go and pursue their dreams.”

Her hometown also played a key role for Faulkner in the year leading up to the Olympics. In the summer of 2023, she was struck by a vehicle while training in California. The accident left her with a fractured tibia and a lot of uncertainty. So she returned to Homer, where she started her recovery.

“She couldn’t get on the road, she had to be careful what she did, she couldn’t go fishing,” Sara Faulkner said. “It was a pretty boring life, but she got to enjoy the summer in Homer.”

The return home ended up being a pivotal point for Faulkner, who started training with the U.S track team regularly last winter after establishing herself as a road racer.

“I went from the lowest point in my career to the highest within eight months,” she said. “I was really struggling during my injury. I wasn’t sure if I’d go back to racing, I wasn’t sure if I’d be competitive again. I didn’t know if I’d qualify for the Olympics after that.

“So I think to come home and be with family during that really hard time was really important. And I think being in Homer and just being able to be grounded and get back to who I was and my core values and why I’m doing the sport, and remember that I’m here to pursue my dreams — I think it gave me a lot of motivation to keep going.”

The Faulkners are planning on a big family Christmas celebration in Homer with more family members arriving over the weekend. Kristen Faulkner said she’s excited for some of the family’s traditions, including reading “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” along with a family dinner.

“I miss Alaska salmon,” she said. “We always cook salmon and go skiing. We’re going to go snowmachining win a few days.”

There is also a reception for Faulkner on Friday at 3 p.m. at Homer High School.

“I’m so excited,” she said. “It’ll just be so fun to see old teachers and classmates and people I grew up with.”