Stanford’s Ledecky turns pro to focus on 2020 Olympics
Katie Ledecky is forgoing her final two years of athletic eligibility at Stanford to turn professional, she announced Monday.
Ledecky, 21, wants to pursue professional opportunities over the next two years ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
“I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to train and swim collegiately for two years alongside some of the greatest women swimmers of this generation,” Ledecky said in a statement. “I am equally excited about the opportunities and challenges ahead as I continue to compete internationally and further my education.”
Ledecky plans to continue training with the Cardinal team as well as take classes at Stanford as she prepares for the World Championships this summer in South Korea as well as the Olympics.
Ledecky helped Stanford win NCAA titles the past two seasons and won eight NCAA titles, including three this month. The fivetime Olympic medalist was the second freshman to win the Honda Cup as the country’s top female collegiate athlete. Ledecky also was a scholar All-American and Pac-12 All-Academic firstteam member.
Ledecky is following a route similar to Cal’s Missy Franklin, who competed for the Golden Bears for two years before turning pro. — Elliott Almond
Baseball
RED SOX HAVE HIGHEST PAYROLL >> The Boston Red Sox will top the major leagues in payroll this season at about $223 million, ending the Los Angeles Dodgers’ four-year run as the top spender. The Giants will be second at around $203 million, with the Chicago Cubs set to be third at about $183 million.
The Dodgers and Washington Nationals will each be at about $180 million, with the Los Angeles Angels near $170 million. BIRD TO HAVE SURGERY >> New York Yankees first baseman Greg Bird will have surgery to remove a broken spur on the outside of his right ankle and will be out until late May.
Golf
MASTERS FIELD RELATIVELY SMALL >> The Masters is assured its smallest field in at least 20 years, with no more than 88 players.
Four players were added to the field Monday from the top 50 in the world ranking. That brings the field to 87, with one spot still available for this week’s winner of the Houston Open if that player isn’t already eligible.
Courts
FORMER MLB STAR ARRESTED >> Former Cleveland Indians All-Star outfielder Albert Belle was arrested for indecent exposure and extreme driving under the influence outside a soccer stadium in Arizona.
Belle, 51, was taken into custody Sunday after Salt River tribal police received reports that two men exposed themselves to adults and children in the parking lot of the Phoenix Rising Soccer Club Stadium on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community bordering Scottsdale.
Colleges
LOUISVILLED HIRES AD >> Louisville hired Vince Tyra as its permanent athletic director on a five-year contract worth $850,000 annually plus bonuses.
Tyra was appointed last fall to temporarily replace AD Tom Jurich after the school placed him on paid administrative in the wake of Louisville’s acknowledged involvement in a federal corruption investigation of college basketball. Jurich was fired on Oct. 18.
Soccer
MESSI BACK FROM INJURY >> Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli said Lionel Messi has recovered from his muscle problems and will play against Spain in a friendly today.