STUDYING OUTSIDE WHERE COVID-19 IS NOT SPREAD AS EASILY. >>> A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TONIGHT FOR A HOMETOWN HERO WHO LEFT GARNER AND WON GOLD IN TOKYO. WRAL CHRIS LOVINGOOD WAS AT TONIGHT'S COUNCIL MEETING WHERE THEY HONORED ROTH. NOW CHRIS, HE'S JUST 20 YEARS OLD ALREADY MAKING SUCH A BIG MARK? >> Reporter: DEBRA, 20 YEARS OLD, WINNING GOLD OVERSEAS. THE KID IS A ROCK QUITE FRANKLY. BUT WE TALKED TO HIM TONIGHT DURING THE CEREMONY. HE SAYS YES, HE'S EXCITED TO WIN GOLD, BUT ALSO EXCITED TO BE RECOGNIZED RIGHT HERE IN GARNER. >> Reporter: RUN, RANDALL, RUN. DID HE EVER REPRESENT. RANDALL HAS THE GOLD MEDAL TO PROVE WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE MEN'S FOUR BY 400 RELAY IN TOKYO. >> I DIDN'T HAVE ANY WORDS. I WAS TOTALLY OUT OF WORDS AND BREATH. >> HIM REPRESENTING PRETTY MUCH WHO HE IS, WHERE HE COMES FROM, WHAT MEANS THE MOST TO HIM TO INCLUDE WHERE HE COMES FROM WAS AN ABSOLUTE -- IT'S JUST A TREAT. >> Reporter: BECAUSE OF ROSS' MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT, MAYOR GARNER HAS PROCLAIMED SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 AS RANDOLPH ROSS DAY. PLUS HE PRESENTED THE GARNER MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL ALUM THE KEY TO THE TOWN. >> IT WILL HOPEFULLY SAY TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH A LOT IN LIFE IF YOU ARE WILLING TO WORK HARD. >> Reporter: FOR US THE HARD WORK CONTINUES. >> AND KNOWING THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE MY LAST ONE IS GREAT THAT WE GET TO COME HOME WITH GOLD, BUT MAKES YOU LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT ELSE YOU MAY HAVE IN STORED. >> Reporter: WE ASKED HIM WHAT'S NEXT. HE SAYS AS YOU HEARD HIM THERE, HE DOESN'T THINK TOKYO IS THE END OF IT. HE STILL HAS MORE ATHLETIC CHALLENGES IN THE FUTURE. BUT FOR THE IMMEDIATE CHALLENGE, HE'S GOT SOME HOMEWORK TO DO. DEBRA? >> CAN'T WAIT TO KEEP WATCHING HIM. CHRIS, DID HE LET YOU HOLD THAT GOLD MEDAL? >> Reporter: OH, HE DID, AND IT WAS HEAVY. I WORE IT, JUST PUT IT ON INSTAGRAM IF YOU CHECK THAT OUT. >> I BET IT FELT GOOD FOR JUST