INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis native and Olympic gold medalist Cole Hocker was is back in town Monday, celebrating the first-ever "Cole Hocker Day."
The City-County Council and Mayor Joe Hogsett greeted Hocker with a ceremony at Richard G. Lugar Plaza.
13News caught up with the Olympian afterward.
"You know, I've got a vacation planned here in a couple of days, relax and get my mental back where it needs to be," Hocker said. "Then, you know, indoor track will start soon enough and we've got world championships this next year, so there's not too much break time for professional track athletes, but I'm doing my best to enjoy and relish in it."
Hocker, a Cathedral High School graduate, said it was a surreal experience to have a day named after him in his hometown.
Hocker stunned the field in the men's 1,500 meters in Paris, bursting past rivals Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr down the stretch to claim gold. His time in the race, which was nearly three seconds faster than his personal best, set an Olympic record.
“If you’ve been following my season, you knew I was capable of it,” Hocker said. “But still, things had to go my way today.”
He became the first Indiana runner in 120 years to medal at a distance longer than 400 meters in the Olympics.
“I kind of lost feeling in my body and it didn't feel like the Olympics anymore until it did," Hocker said after his performance in Stade de France.
He is now headed back to Virginia, but he's planning a return trip to Indianapolis in November for the CNO Financial Monumental Marathon.