Wheaton hometown hero joining mom for autograph signing

It's been a golden week for Olympic speedskater Nancy Swider-Peltz Jr.

It started Monday when officials in her hometown of Wheaton declared it "Nancy Swider-Peltz Jr. Day."

It continued Wednesday when she visited the White House with other U.S. Olympians from the Vancouver Games and presented President Obama with a Bible.

It will end Saturday when the 23-year-old will be back in Wheaton to join her mother - four-time Olympian Nancy Swider-Peltz - for an open house and autograph signing at Hawthorne Elementary School, 334 E. Wakeman.

"This week has been a great privilege," Swider-Peltz Jr. said from a Washington, D.C., hotel room. "Just coming to Washington, I am so pumped to be here."

Life has changed for the 2005 Wheaton North High School graduate since she finished ninth in the ladies' 3,000-meter speedskating race and fourth in the ladies' team pursuit competition during the Winter Olympics.

Her mom says she's proud of the way her daughter has responded to the attention.

"She is staying very grounded," said her mom, who also serves as her daughter's coach.

Swider-Peltz Jr. says she hasn't changed as a person, but she does believe her Olympic experience has created more opportunities.

For example, she's been visiting elementary schools to encourage students to pursue their dreams.

"That's what inspired me when I was younger," she said. "To be able to do that and come full circle and encourage others means a lot to me."

Swider-Peltz Jr. said Saturday's appearance at Hawthorne is significant because she went to the school growing up. She's hoping to reconnect with friends and old classmates during the 1 to 4 p.m. event.

Having mom there will make the day that much more enjoyable.

"Honestly, she is the hard work behind all of this," Swider-Peltz Jr. said of her mother. "I am doing the actual race. But she's doing the mental side, the calculations - the stressful part."

Her mom knows what it takes to be an Olympian. She competed in four consecutive Games beginning with Innsbruck in 1976 and concluding with Calgary in 1988. She said she believes her daughter has the ability to compete in at least two more Olympics.

"Barring any weird physical things that could happen, I think she should be able to make it," Swider-Peltz said.

Swider-Peltz Jr. will resume training next month to prepare for competitions that begin in October. She's also looking forward to returning to Wheaton College in the fall to continue her studies on a part-time basis. She attended the school in 2006 and 2007 before taking time off to train for the Olympics.

In the meantime, her mom says she enjoys the fact she's not the only Olympian in the family.

"People used to introduce me as a four-time Olympian who is training her daughter," Swider-Peltz said. "Now it's like, 'Here is the Olympian who was on the 2010 team and this is her mom who coaches her.'

"The baton has been passed," she said. "I love the fact that she's become her own person. She's never had to live in my shadow."

<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go </p>

<p class="News"><b>What:</b> Nancy Swider-Peltz Jr. open house and autograph signing </p>

<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aprl 24</p>

<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Hawthorne Elementary School, 334 E. Wakeman in Wheaton</p>

<p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> Free</p>