About 150 Pelham residents erupted with a roar of applause at the Pelham Picture House Saturday as PMHS alum Kate Douglass won a silver medal representing Team USA. The Picture House was hosting the first of four Olympic viewing parties, this one so local fans could cheer on the Pelham native in the medal race for the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay.
The main hall became packed quickly for the afternoon race with locals rooting for the woman from their hometown in her first event at the Paris games.
“It was really cool to see a lot of people show up to Kate’s first event,” said Brenna Rini, a Pelham Picture House employee at concessions. “It got so packed. We didn’t even have enough seats for anyone. It was really cool to see someone from our town representing us at the Olympics.”
“I think having a Pelham alum at the Olympics is very cool,” said JJ Hetzer, who also works at concessions.
During the viewing party, Picture House Executive Director Clayton Bushong held a trivia contest where people had the chance to win shirts representing Kate Douglass.
“My daughter grew up with Kate,” Bushong said. “She’s very friendly, and I’ve watched her grow up too. This is our second time we’ve hosted a viewing party. We have always loved supporting Kate, and we are very proud of her.”
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