Press Releases
Public Libraries’ Celebrate Local Olympic Athletes
For Immediate Release: Friday, August 5, 2016
Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) will provide an opportunity for County residents to show their support for the four County athletes who are going for the gold at the upcoming Summer Olympics. Every library branch has established a station for residents to deliver fan mail or messages to the athletes.
Montgomery County is home to four of the 11 athletes representing Maryland on the 2016 U.S. Olympic roster. The 2016 Olympic Games will take place in Rio de Janeiro from Aug. 5-21. More than 10,500 athletes from 204 nations are expected to participate in 28 sports, including the highly anticipated reinstatement of golf and rugby.
Jack Conger from Rockville will be competing in the 4x200m freestyle swimming event. Conger graduated from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in 2013.
Katie Ledecky, former gold medalist from the 2012 Olympics will compete in the 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle. Ledecky, from Bethesda, graduated from Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in 2015.
Ashley Nee from Bethesda will compete in the Canoe Slalom. Nee graduated from Northwestern High School.
Helen Maroulis, a former Col. Zadok Magruder High School student, is a wrestler who will be competing in the Freestyle 53 kg.
“I am so proud of our County athletes - Jack, Katie, Ashley and Helen - who are competing in Rio. Through their hard work, dedication, and personal sacrifice these young people are living their dream,” said County Executive Ike Leggett. “I encourage everyone to stop by one of our library branches to show how much we admire and support these extraordinary athletes.”
Residents can stop by any of the library branches located throughout the County to drop-offtheirletters or cards. The fan mail stations will be available during regularly scheduled hours through August 21. The letters will be delivered to the athletes after the Olympics.
“Everyone is proud of our ‘hometown’ Olympic athletes,” said MCPL Director Parker Hamilton. “It is wonderful our Libraries are a place for everyone to show their support for the athletes. Residents will also want to take advantage of the Olympic-themed library offerings such as the expansive collection of books on the Olympics, athletes or sports or computer stations to stay current on what is happening in Rio.”
For more information on MCPL go to http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/library/.
Media Contact: Judy Stiles 240-777-6507