Olympic gymnast to serve as Indy 500 grand marshal

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A U.S. gold medal winner for gymnastics in the 2008 Olympics will be this year’s grand marshal for the Indianapolis 500.

Nastia Liukin, who was the individual all-around gold medalist for the Beijing Olympics, will take part in a parade lap, appear on the red carpet and be part of various 500 Festival events, including the Snake Pit Ball.

Liukin said she can’t wait to be part of the race.

“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 in a news release.

Liukin retired from competition in 2012, but remains active in the gymnastics world. Her visit to Indianapolis in August will be to serve as a television commentator for the P&G Gymnastics Championships.