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Swiss Albane Valenzuela was teeing off at the shooting range Friday morning when she spotted American swimmer Katie Ledecky in the gallery. The two Stanford alumni first met at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and became close friends in Palo Alto, California.
Ledecky, who now has 14 Olympic medals, including nine gold, typically does not stay after the swim is over but will be a flag bearer at the closing ceremony for the U.S. team with Nick Mead.
Olympic Games: Photos | Grounds
“It’s quieter, but it’s so cool to see it up close,” Ledecky told Golf Channel’s Tom Abbott Friday morning of his first golf tournament. “I have so much respect for these athletes, the way they compete all year long, they travel a lot. It seems like they’re all enjoying the Olympic experience, that’s what really counts.”
Valenzuela, who is competing in her third Olympics, is currently ranked No. 70 in the world. The 26-year-old earned her first LPGA card for the 2020 season.
Ledecky also met world No. 1 Nelly Korda at Le Golf National as well as LPGA Hall of Famer and IGF President Annika Sorenstam. Korda watched Ledecky win the 800m freestyle earlier this week.
This article was originally published on Golfweek: Katie Ledecky Surprises Stanford Friend Albane Valenzuela at Paris Olympics
