Thousands of people line out to see Olympic record-breaking swimmer Michael Phelps riding through his childhood neighbourhood of Towson.
Phelps, whose eight golds at the Beijing Olympics surpassed compatriot and fellow-swimmer Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals in one Olympics set in Munich in 1972, emerged onto the parade route through an arch formed by two fire trucks draped with a huge American flag.
He smiled and waved to the crowd as he rode along the parade route in an open-top Hummer.
An estimated 5,000 people lined the parade route waving flags and banners to honour their hero and the rest of Maryland's Olympic stars who included Katie Hoff, winner of three swimming medals, and athletes from the Paralympic Games.
