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Rio: What Michael Phelps Said About Being Chosen Flag Bearer
Posted On Aug 04 2016
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RIO DE JANEIRO Michael Phelps, the most medalled Olympian of all time, questioned on Wednesday whether he had ever swum in a “clean” sport as he prepared for a Rio Games overshadowed by the Russian doping scandal.
An elder statesman at 31, Phelps says he’s “extremely honored” by his selection to carry the United States flag in Friday’s opening ceremony.
“Just so you guys don’t beat me to death if I come back”, Phelps said.
“As a Brazilian, I’d love to do it”, said the 75-year-old, who helped his country win the World Cup three times and would be launching the Games in the stadium where he scored his 1,000th goal in 1969. “I want to do it”. In London, I wanted to make history.
Phelps will be only the second swimmer to lead the US delegation in the opening ceremony.
He will be the first swimmer to be the flag-bearer since Gary Hall in 1976, leading the American team in Friday’s opening ceremony.
Phelps had retired after London 2012, when he won four gold medals, but returned to the sport he loves and feels he is now reaping the rewards.
Michael Phelps kept saying this would definitely be his final Olympics.
For the first time, Phelps is serving as a team captain at the Olympics. “When one of our staff members told me, I had the biggest smile on my face you could possibly find”.
The Games in Brazil have been heavily overshadowed by a doping scandal, which has seen several Russian athletes banned from the Olympics, which includes essentially their entire track-and-field team. “My emotions will be 10 times what they’ve ever been before”.
“Before, I would always have my headphones on and I wouldn’t really talk to anybody”, he said. “So that’s really good for my mindset going into this Olympics that I’m the underdog and I have to earn my spot on the podium”. If he could change the travel, “I would like to have the honor to light it”, he said.
Phelps and his fiancee, Nicole Johnson, welcomed a son, Boomer, in May.
“He’s touched everyone on this Olympic team and everyone at home (in the U.S.)”, Lochte continued, before adding that he’s not convinced of Phelps’ retirement.
