Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced that 2008 Olympic Games Gold Medalist Nastia Luikin will serve as the grand marshal for the Indianapolis 500.
“We’re excited to have Nastia Liukin as part of the rich pre-race pageantry of the Indianapolis 500,” J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president, said. “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.”
Luikin’s road to the Olympics kicked off in Indianapolis as she won her first senior U.S. all-around title at the U.S. Championships in Indy in 2005.
“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.’ ”
