NOW that kayaker Aimee Fisher has got a measure of the giddy heights of Rio, she is back home briefly fulfilling humbling duties such as awarding medals to preschoolers during an Olympic Day in Napier this week.
The 21-year-old from Hastings, who has been visiting Hawke's Bay schools during her three-week visit soon after marching with fellow Kiwi Olympians at the closing ceremony of the Olympics, got a pleasant surprise when she turned up at Marewa Park before warming up with children and marching alongside them in a Bright Futures Homebased Childcare-organised event.
"It was so much fun. I didn't expect them to be so young, so it was a bit of a shock for me," says Fisher whose mother, Darryl, organised the event where youngsters dressed up in New Zealand and other national colours such as France, Japan and Jamaica.
Fisher has been working with Sport Hawke's Bay to keep the Olympic flame burning despite the official conclusion of the games on August 22.
"I've been pretty sick. I've got a chest infection," says the former Karamu High School pupil who competed in the K4 category of kayaking in Rio with Kayla Imrie, Jaimee Lovett and Caitlin Ryan. The crew finished in fifth place in the finals.