Nastia Liukin Honored As Grand Marshal For Indy 500

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This Sunday will mark the 99th running of the
Indianapolis 500. 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist
Nastia Liukin has been named the honorary
Grand Marshal for the event. Liukin will be on
site for the weekend taking part in several events
including a lap around the track prior to the race
on Sunday. The Indy 500 is set for Sunday, May
24 at 12:15pm.

Liukin continues her busy schedule this weekend,
as she is still enrolled in classes at NYU. Liukin
is fresh off her season of Dancing with the Stars
where she competed into the semifinals
Liukin shares her fun via her Instagram.

Excited to kick off a fun weekend at the #
Indy500!! @indianapolismotorspeedway
A photo posted by Nastia Liukin (@
nastialiukin) on May 22, 2015 at 2:57pm PDT
Release via- Indianapolis Motor Speedway

As part of her duties as Grand Marshal, Liukin
will appear on the red carpet, take a parade lap
around the famed 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor
Speedway oval and be announced to the crowd
prior to the start of the race. She will also serve
as an Honored Guest at the 500 Festival Parade
and the Snake Pit Ball.

“We’re excited to have Nastia Liukin as part of
the rich pre-race pageantry of the Indianapolis
500,” said J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor
Speedway president. “Over the years we have
welcomed many famous athletes from outside
the motorsports world on Race Day and to have
such a decorated Olympian visit is an honor.”

“I have very fond memories of competing and
performing in Indianapolis, and I will actually be
back again in August for the P&G Gymnastics
Championships,” Liukin said. “I’m really honored
to be the Grand Marshal for this year’s
Indianapolis 500. It will be so exciting to witness
‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ – I can’t
wait!”

Indianapolis holds a significant place in Liukin’s
career, as she won her first senior U.S. all-
around title at the U.S. Championships in Indy in
2005. She will be returning to town in August as
a television commentator for the P&G
Gymnastics Championships, the sport’s national
championships.