Olympic swimmers Rebecca Soni and Ricky Berens will be given an official key to the city at Tuesday night's City Council meeting. Mayor Wayne Powell has elected to honor the two Manhattan Beach residents, who have eight Olympic gold medals between them, with his "I Heart MB" award and the city keys.
The two have made quite a splash in the world of competitive swimming, each taking home at least one gold medal in the 2012 Olympics: Soni in the women's 200-meter breast stroke and 4x100-meter relay; Berens in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle, according to the Team USA website.
Soni, 25, has six Olympic medals: one silver in the 2012 games and two silver medals in the 2008 Olympics.
Berens, 24, has two Olympic medals, both gold, the first one in the 4x200-meter freestyle in the 2008 games.
Outside of the pool, Berens likes golf, surfing and video games, according to USA Swimming's website, and Soni enjoys beach volleyball, cooking, yoga, reading and hiking.
Berens was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and graduated from the University of Texas. Soni was born in Freehold, New Jersey, and graduated from USC.
- Previously: Maria Sharapova Receives I Heart MB Award
The City Council meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at 1400 Highland Avenue.
