Hero’s welcome for new Aussie household name Kurtis Marschall

Gold-medal winning Aussie pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall has arrived home to a hero’s welcome.

Yesterday, the up and coming athlete wasn’t a household name, but that all changed last night when he took a giant leap into Commonwealth Games glory beating 2015 world champion Canadian Shawn Barber.

Mum, Dad, Opa and a handful of relatives were in the crowd cheering Marschall on, wearing matching “Team Kurtis Marschall” t-shirts.

Opa Fred Lorenz couldn’t be prouder.

“I told him before he left that he was going to come home with a gold medal,” he said.

Marschall said it was seeing his family in the crowd that lifted him on his third and final attempt to clear 5.70m and claim gold.

Dad John Westphalen was emotional recalling the moment he knew Marschall had won.

“It brings me to tears, it’s just amazing, sorry,” Mr Westphalen said.

Mum Petra Lorenz said she was jumping up and down in the crowd.

“We are so proud of Kurtis, he is such a determined young man,” she said.

“He’s always smiling… he loves training that’s his heart and soul, he puts everything into it.

For now, the newest Aussie track and field hero is still riding the rollercoaster of emotion.

“It still hasn’t really sunk in I can’t really believe it to be  honest, am I gonna wake up and it’s not going to be there?”