She took a touring gymnastics show to more than 30 US states and graced the sofas of TV superstars Jay Leno, David Letterman and Ellen DeGeneres, before becoming the third Olympic gold medallist to win Dancing With The Stars (the other two being short-track speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno and figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi).

BBC: US gymnast Shawn Johnson seeks focus to succeed in 2012

Luckow herself was a good student, accomplished figure skater (her coach also coached Harding) and a would-be ventriloquist.

FORBES: Exploitation Or Honesty: Should Filmmaker Use Her Brother's iPhone Video Of His Own Madness?

Besides the giant balloons, the parade featured 538 clowns, 13 bands and a veritable cornucopia of celebrities, including figure skater Oksana Baiul, Miss America Tara Dawn Holland and singer-actress Vanessa Williams.

CNN: Let the Thanksgiving festivities begin!

Though Craig Buntin may be more comfortable with a figure of eight, the Olympic pair skater is now studying for his MBA at Desautels-McGill.

FORBES: Shaking the MBA Martini: Diversity Is the New Cocktail