Trio of SoCal Olympians Chosen as Rose Parade Grand Marshals

ARCADIA, CA — The selection of the 2017 Grand Marshals for the Rose Parade were chosen for their successes in Olympic history. In the 128th Rose Parade, three gold medalists and Southern California natives Greg Louganis, Allyson Felix and Janet Evans each perfect for the theme "Echoes of Success."

The Grand Marshal is chosen and invited to participate in all of the Rose Parade and Tournament of Roses festivities.

"The theme tells the story of how our character has developed through the selfless contributions of others and celebrates their inspirational gifts," Tournament of Roses President Brad Ratliff said. "It is a celebration of those people, institutions and organizations that help in the success of others."

The three will traditionally perform the coin toss before the Rose Bowl Game following the parade on January 2nd, rather than New Year's Day in 2017. As per the tournament's history, there will be no parade ever held on a Sunday.

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.

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.

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.

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