Olympic discus thrower Lance Brooks has been honored in his central Illinois hometown of New Berlin.

Brooks visited the village outside Springfield on Sunday, when he was the grand marshal of the New Berlin High School homecoming parade and was honored in a special ceremony. Two blocks in front of the high school were renamed "Honorary Lance Brooks Drive." Brooks competed in the London Olympics. He has since returned to his job as a construction worker in the Denver area.

The 28-year-old Brooks thanked the crowd telling them they were "all always there for me."

New Berlin is about 20 miles west of Springfield in Sangamon County.