County Executive Ike Leggett honored Montgomery County’s 2016 Team USA Olympians in a standing-room-only event on Dec. 19. The celebration held at the Silver Spring Civic Building, located at One Veterans Place, recognized Montgomery County’s four athletes who represented the U.S. in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Joining Leggett were Olympians Jack Conger, Katie Ledecky and Ashley Nee. Helen Maroulis was unable to attend. The U.S. is the first country in 40 years to top the medal chart in every category to earn 46 gold medals. Six of those medals were won by Montgomery County Olympians.
Jack Conger from Rockville competed in the 4 x 200m freestyle swimming event. Conger earned a gold medal for the Men’s 4 X 200m freestyle relay swimming.
Katie Ledecky from Bethesda is a gold medalist from the 2012 Olympics who competed in the 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle, 4 x 200m freestyle and 4 X 100m freestyle relay. Ledecky earned a silver and four gold medals at the 2016 Olympics.
Ashley Nee from Darnestown competed in the canoe slalom. Nee overcame a past serious shoulder injury and the disappointment of just missing placement on the 2012 Team USA for the London games.
Helen Maroulis made history when she defeated Japan's 13-time world champion, giving Team USA its first women's wrestling gold medal in Olympic history. Maroulis competed in the freestyle 53 kg.
The ceremony included a joint proclamation presented by Leggett and Montgomery County Council President Roger Berliner. Gabe Albornoz, director of the Montgomery County Recreation Department served as Master of Ceremonies for the event which included rousing music by the Richard Montgomery High School Band under the direction of Dr. Peter Perry.
Other highlights for the event included a presentation of fan mail from Montgomery County Public Library Director Parker Hamilton, the Chairperson of the Maryland Commission for Women Lee Banchu announced that Katie Ledecky and Helen Maroulis would be inducted into the Maryland Sports Hall of Fame in March and Jacqueline Keenan, marketing manager for Rockville Town Square, presented the athletes with two 8-foot flip flops that had been signed by hundreds of residents to show support of the athletes during the 2016 Rio Games.
The best part of the event for many of the kids who attended the ceremony came when they got to meet the athletes and get a quick photograph.
For more information about the event, check;