Olympic Gold Medalist Butler Named Petit Grand Marshal

Aaliyah Butler, a track and field gold medalist at this year’s Paris Olympics, has been named as the grand marshal for the 27th running of Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

The 20-year-old was part of Team USA’s women’s 4×400-meter relay team, which won the gold medal during the Olympics in June.

Although Butler is a Florida native, she has a connection to Georgia as she studies International Affairs at the University of Georgia in Athens and holds the 400m school record there.

A statement issued by IMSA outlined that Butler was selected “to celebrate her accomplishments in the country where Motul Petit Le Mans claims its roots,” referencing the 24 Hours of Le Mans that inspired the creation of the event that now serves as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season finale.

“Aaliyah represented Team USA exceptionally at the Paris Olympics, and we’re proud to now have the opportunity to honor her accomplishments as the grand marshal at Motul Petit Le Mans,” said Rick Humphrey, president and general manager at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

“Her tremendous efforts in Paris brought home another gold for Team USA, and we know that her incredible Olympic performance will further motivate these IMSA driver-athletes as they prepare for a grueling 10 hours of competition at Motul Petit Le Mans.”