What was supposed to be a party at his gym club turned into a massive celebration for Kyle Shewfelt at Canada Olympic Park.

Maybe organizers couldn't find a landing pad for the police department's HAWC1 helicopter at the Altadore Gym Club as Calgary's gold medallist arrived via the 'copter, a fitting ride for Canada's first artistic gymnastics medal winner.

The 22-year-old, proudly wearing his hardware around his neck, was met by about 300 screaming fans waving Canadian flags, including Mayor Dave Bronconnier, Calgary Flames president Ken King and women's hockey Olympic gold medallist Kelly Bechard.

"For this to be happening today is absolutely amazing and almost unbelievable," said Shewfelt, who cut into a massive cake, complete with a picture of him atop the podium in Athens on it.

"Being here today and seeing all these faces, I'm so overjoyed and so honoured that everyone came out to celebrate this accomplishment."

With enrolment at Canadian gym clubs going through the roof, Shewfelt has set his sights on a new goal and that's to help others be the best they can.

"I want to go to every school I possibly can, every gymnastics club and my mission now is to inspire," he said.

Bronconnier presented Shewfelt with a glass sculpture created by a local artist as well as a "Gold Medal Way" street sign, with printed gold letters on a red background.

King gave him a Calgary Flames jersey with No. 1 on the back and CBC's call of Shewfelt's gold medal floor routine, sans video, was played over the PA system, bringing tears to many eyes.

Also in attendance were some of his Olympic teammates, including Adam Wong, Grant Golding and Nathan Gafuik, who was the men's gymnastics team alternate.