Needham's Aly Raisman returns home to fanfare

BOSTON (WHDH) -- Bay State native Aly Raisman was welcomed home Monday night, one day after learning she made the Olympic gymnastics team.

The 18-year-old from Needham will spend some time in Massachusetts before heading to Texas to resume training with the team.

"it feels like a dream and it's just been really crazy,” she said. “I haven't even had a second to really think about it but I can't wait to go back home and just work really hard and I can't wait to go to London."

Raisman finished third in the US trials out in San Jose, earning one of five spots on the women's squad.

"I love gymnastics so much so to be able to go to London with my best friends -- I love the team so much, so I’m really excited," she said.

Raisman trains at Brestyan's America Gymnastics Club in Burlington. Gymnasts who train alongside Raisman are excited to know she will get the chance to be an Olympian.

"I couldn't say anything, I couldn't even fall asleep because I was so happy," one girl said.

"She works so hard for it and she really deserves it,” another said. “I'm so happy for her."

And Raisman has a message for the next wave of Olympic hopefuls:

"Have fun with it and never give up and to always work hard," she said.