FIVE-TIME OLYMPIC SWIM GOLD MEDALIST LEDECKY WILL LEAVE STANFORD, TURN PRO
Katie Ledecky’s short but spectacular collegiate swimming career is finished. The five-time Olympic champion will forgo her final two seasons of college eligibility at Stanford to embark on a professional swimming career, immediately setting her sights on the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo.
“I feel like now is the right time for me to be making this transition and starting this next chapter,” the Bethesda, Md., native said in an interview with The Washington Post.
Ledecky, who turned 21 this month, had settled on her decision early in the school year but didn’t make it public until a speaking appearance Monday at the National Press Club in Washington. The move means Ledecky can take on lucrative endorsement deals and can start competing for money.
It also means she can no longer swim for Stanford, bringing to close a brilliant but brief college career. In addition to helping the Cardinal win two national championships, Ledecky won eight NCAA titles, including three this month.
In 2020, Ledecky will have a shot at topping her historic performance from the Rio Games in 2016, where she won four gold medals and a silver. She’ll enter her third Summer Games with six Olympic medals — five of them gold — and Ledecky will again be the likely favorite in most of the freestyle distances — the 200, 400, 800 and 1,500 — with a chance to swim in relays.
Woods to play in own tournament.
WASHINGTON» Tiger Woods will play in his Washington-area tournament benefiting his foundation from June 25-July 1. It would be his first appearance since 2015.
Woods has won the tournament twice since its inception in 2007. He returned to competitive golf in December and has since competed in five PGA Tour events.
• The Masters is assured its smallest field in 21 years with no more than 87 players. List on page 6B.
• The Ryder Cup will return to Hazeltine in 2028, the first time a U.S. course will host the showcase event a second time.
Porter heads for NBA draft.
MO.» Missouri’s Michael COLUMBIA,
Porter Jr. declared for the NBA draft.
Missouri was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by Florida State in the opening round. The freshman scored 16 points in 28 minutes as a reserve, just his third appearance of the season due to a back injury.
• The West Coast Conference is altering its basketball schedules in hopes of getting better treatment in seeding and at-large bids for the NCAA tournament.
The WCC Presidents’ Council said the 10-team league will go to a 16game schedule next season instead of an 18-game double round-robin.
Nemechek wins trucks race.
VA.» John Hunter MARTINSVILLE,
Nemechek staved off a bump from Kyle Benjamin in the final turn at Martinsville Speedway to win a Truck Series race that was postponed a day because of snow.
It was Nemechek’s first career victory at Martinsville, where he had finished second twice and third once.
Beavers still atop baseball poll.
Oregon State (20-2) remains the consensus No. 1 college baseball team. The Beavers won two of three games against Washington over the weekend, with an 8-4 loss Sunday ending their 15-game Pac-12 win streak. Florida (21-5) and Stanford (17-2) are Nos. 2 and 3 by D1Baseball.com and Baseball America.
CSU coach Medved adds to staff.
COLLINS» Colorado State added FORT
Ali Farokhmanesh and JR Blount as assistant men’s basketball coaches, coach Niko Medved announced.
Both spent the past year on Medved’s staff at Drake.