For flag bearer at the Rio Olympics opening ceremonies, U.S. Athletes have a chosen the Olympian sitting on more gold than a doomsday prepper.Baltimore native and the most decorated Olympian of all time (22 medals and counting!) Michael Phelps will fulfill the role on Friday.
“I’m honored to be chosen, proud to represent the U.S., and humbled by the significance of carrying the flag and all it stands for,” Phelps said in a statement.
According to USA Today, Phelps is only the second swimmer to serve as flag bearer. (Gary Hall was the first in 1976.)
This Olympics will be Phelps’s fifth in a row and his last. He said his Olympic goals are different in at age 31 from what they were when he first competed at age 15. “I want to walk in the opening ceremony, take it all in, represent America in the best possible way and make my family proud,” Phelps said. “This time around, it’s about so much more than medals.”
31 years old! 5 Olympics in a row! That’s too much! He’ll have to join Olympaholics Anonymous when it’s over.
Good luck Michael! We’re proud of you!