Kayla Harrison returns to Mass. after gold medal win

BOSTON (WHDH) -- One of Massachusetts’ golden girls returned home from London.

Judo champion Kayla Harrison arrived at Logan Airport Monday night with her coach and former Olympic bronze medalist Jimmy Pedro. Harrison said she slept right next to her medal in London and all her hard work and training paid off.

“I wake up every morning and I’m like, wow, this is real, you do it, it’s over, like everything all the hard work, all the crying, all the sweat, all of the blood has been worth it, but it’s been amazing,” said Harrison.

Harrison defeated Great Britain’s Gemma Gibbons for the gold in London. She is the first American to win a gold medal in judo.