Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela took off in a sprint from the range Friday morning when she spotted U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky in the gallery. The pair of Stanford alums 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 golds, typically doesn’t stay on after the swimming concludes but will be a flag bearer at the Closing Ceremony for Team USA along with Nick Mead.
“It’s quieter, but it’s so cool to see up close,” Ledecky told Golf Channel’s Tom Abbott Friday morning of her first golf tournament. “I have so much respect for these athletes, how they compete year-round, they travel so much. It seems like they’re all enjoying the Olympic experience, which is what it’s all about.”
Valenzuela, now competing in her third Olympics, is currently ranked 70th in the world. The 26-year-old first earned her 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 Annika Sorenstam, who serves as IGF president. Korda watched Ledecky win the 800m freestyle earlier this week.
