Katie Ledecky Has To Turn Down Waffle Maker From Ellen To Maintain Eligibility

U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky this week visited Ellen DeGeneres' syndicated talk show following her record performance at the Rio Games, but her appearance was highlighted by her turning down a potential gift in order to maintain her college eligibility. Ledecky was set to play a game called “Foot Flickers,” which consisted of kicking a ball onto a large dart board, with the winner receiving a waffle maker. DeGeneres noted Ledecky is enrolling in Stanford and said, "You bring that to the dorm room.” Ledecky quickly replied, "I’m competing in the NCAA, so I can’t really accept things” (“The Ellen DeGeneres Show," 9/13). USA TODAY's Andrew Joseph noted Ledecky earned $355,000 "in medal bonuses" in Rio, and NCAA rules allow her "to keep that medal money." Joseph: "Thanks to the NCAA's ridiculous inconsistencies about 'amateurism,' Ledecky can't accept DeGeneres' waffle maker. ... She can, however, use some of that $355,000 to buy that same waffle maker" (USATODAY.com, 9/14).