Gator Grand Marshall Lochte
Swimmer Ryan Lochte to serve as parade's grand marshal
Homecoming weekend marks a special time in football season when Gainesville is filled with UF alumni making their pilgramages back to The Gator Nation.
This year, several notable alumni will make appearances at Homecoming events, such as Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte, who will kick off UF’s Homecoming celebration this year.
Lochte will serve as the grand marshal for the Homecoming parade, which begins today at noon.
The two-time Olympian picked up his second gold medal at the 2008 summer games in Beijing for the 200-meter backstroke.
Lochte still resides in Gainesville, where he continues swimming training.
Sara Tanner, associate producer of communications for Gator Growl, said Lochte will lead the parade in a car from Gale Lemerand Drive to Main Street.
The prestigious title of grand marshal is usually given to someone of importance in the area, Tanner said.
All prominent UF alumni are sent personal invitations to attend the Homecoming festivities as well, she added.
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The Crazy thing is one of my TAs told us he's going home for the weekend - to Gainesville. Yeah, he's a UF alum (about a year older than Reezy, if I calculated correctly), and when he told us that, I just about had a fit of glee right in the middle of dicussion He also said he's going to the football game. I wonder if he'll see a certain swimmer we're quite fond of there...