Mississippi town says there will be no parade for local Olympians

Published 6:04 am Monday, August 19, 2024

Mississippians quickly took to social media to call for a parade after Sam Kendricks and Shelby McEwen won silver medals at the Paris Olympics.

A former Ole Miss athlete, Kendricks earned a silver medal in the men’s pole vault final, clearing the bar at 5.95 meters. It is his second Olympic medal, earning a bronze medal in the 2016 games.

An Oxford High School graduate, McEwen won silver in the men’s high jump.

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However, Visit Oxford confirmed that the city of Oxford and Lafayette County will not be hosting a parade due to the athletes’ busy post-season schedules. In a social media post, Visit Oxford stated, “While we would love to host a parade in honor of Sam and Shelby, their schedules don’t allow for it… Join us in congratulating them on their Olympic medals.”

Despite the lack of a parade, Oxford honored the athletes by displaying a congratulatory banner on the south side of the courthouse. Kendricks also held a celebration event at The Refuge, allowing locals to celebrate his achievement. The community continues to show support and pride for their Olympic heroes.