Record-setting Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky will throw out the first pitch on Wednesday evening at Nationals Park, NBC Washington reported Tuesday afternoon.
Ledecky, a resident of Bethesda, Maryland, has thrown out the first pitch at the stadium before, for Game One of the National League Division Series in 2014.
“Ledecky won four gold medals in Rio, smashed her own world record in the 400-meter freestyle and broke an Olympic record in the 800m freestyle during the preliminary heats,” noted NBC Washington.
The Nationals wrap up their annual 4-game Beltway rivalry with the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday and Thursday. The teams wrap up the Charm City half of the back-to-back series Tuesday in Baltimore. The O’s won Monday’s game, 4-3.
A sometimes contentious but generally cordial interleague rivalry, Orioles fans should find plenty of cause to cheer when Ledecky takes the mound.
Together with Baltimore born-and-bred Michael Phelps, the two Olympic swimmers account for half of the 18 gold medals won by Maryland-based U.S. Olympians.
All told, 39 percent of of Team USA’s 46 gold medals in Rio were from Maryland-based Olympians.
• Ken Shepherd can be reached at kshepherd@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.