Shaine Casas returns to the Rio Grande Valley after Olympic debut

MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A meet and greet was held at the McAllen Public Library for Olympian Shaine Casas on Thursday.

Casas drew a sizable crowd to the event with his infectious humor and excitement.

He says he is proud of his achievements but explains that he is still learning.

"I know for myself, I know I did well in a sense I didn't do what I thought I could do," Casas said. "So for myself, especially the past month, a lot of it has been reflecting and how did it go wrong in perspective of I should have done better."

Casas received a medal from the City of McAllen in honor of competing at the Olympics and representing his hometown.

He says he is thankful for the support and it is a driving factor in helping him improve.

"The Valley kind of just pushing me forward and rooting for me and it's nice to know that because I didn't really know that before. "Now knowing that it's kind of like extra motivation for myself."

Casas will still compete and wants to make a bigger splash at the next Olympic Games.

"I told my new coach, we had a meeting and I said you know I don't wanna be the guy who just makes it, I wanna be somebody that's in a lot of events and contributing on relays," he said. "Making the Olympics is such a high feat, but I feel like I can still take even one more step further than that."

Casas also presented an autographed flag he brought back from Paris to the McAllen Public Library.