The grand marshals of the 2017 Rose Parade, themed “Echoes of Success,” are Olympic legends Allyson Felix, Greg Louganis and Janet Evans, the Tournament of Roses announced Thursday.
A trio of Olympic gold medalists — Allyson Felix, Greg Louganis and Janet Evans — will serve as grand marshals of the 2017 Rose Parade, themed “Echoes of Success,” the Tournament of Roses announced Thursday.
“We each have those individuals that have made an impact on our lives,” Tournament of Roses President Brad Ratliff said. “This year’s theme, Echoes of Success, is a salute to those individuals. The impact that our three grand marshals have had on so many, both through their achievements and voices, truly is representative of our theme. The values exhibited by our Olympians and the richness in their backgrounds has given so many others the support, encouragement and drive to succeed, and we want to celebrate all that they have given.”
Felix, a 30-year-old USC graduate born and raised in the Southland, is the only female track and field athlete to win six Olympic gold medals and is tied with Jamaican Merlene Ottey as the most decorated female track and field Olympian, with nine medals.
Louganis, born in El Cajon and raised in Orange County, is considered one of the top divers ever. The 56-year-old won gold medals in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics in both platform and springboard diving, making him the only male and second diver in Olympic history to sweep the diving events in consecutive Olympic Games.
Evans, a Placentia native who graduated from USC, won a total of four gold medals in the 1988 and 1992 Olympics and set world records in the 4-meter, 800-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle events. Her 400-meter record lasted for 18 years until it was broken in 2006. Evans, 45, also won the 1989 Sullivan Award as America’s top amateur athlete.
The 128th Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game will be held on Jan. 2 in Pasadena.
According to the Tournament of Roses, the theme “Echoes of Success” focuses on “how our character has developed through the selfless contributions of others and celebrates their inspirational gifts.”
The parade has had multiple grand marshals several times in the past, most recently in 2003, when Bill Cosby, Art Linkletter and Fred Rogers shared the honor.
—City News Service