BEAVERTON, Ore. -- The first gold medal winner at the Beijing Olympics is settling back into life in the states.

Beaverton native Mariel Zagunis talked to FOX 12 Friday morning as she sat in with Doctor Doug and Skippy on 97.1 FM.

She took home an individual gold medal in fencing and also won a bronze for the team fencing event.

"It was really great for me to be up there and share the podium with my two teammates who got second and third and to see three American flags and just hear the national anthem on the first day of the Olympic Games was a dream come true for me," Zagunis said.

She said that she is already thinking about defending her gold medal at the London Olympics in four years.

"Even though fencing can be kind of tough on your body sometimes, as long as I stay healthy and strong I definitely want to go for 2012 in London because I have to defend my title one more time," Zagunis said.

Zagunis said it's been a whirlwind since she got home.

She's been a guest on the Oprah show and is headed for an interview on FOX News next.

Gold Medalist Returns To Beaverton Home