The most decorated athlete in Olympic history will carry the United States flag during the opening ceremony for the Rio Games.
On Wednesday morning, it was announced that Michael Phelps was selected to be flag-bearer in a vote by members of the U.S. Olympic team.
The 31-year-old was an obvious choice heading into his fifth Summer Games. He has won 18 gold medals and 22 in total, far more than any other athlete.
Phelps becomes only the second swimmer to lead the U.S. delegation in the opening ceremony after Gary Hall became the first at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
"I'm honoured 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.
Phelps skipped the opening ceremony at the last three Olympics to rest up for the grueling 400-metre individual medley, which is held the next day. But with that event no longer a part of his program, Phelps is available to carry the flag in Friday night's ceremony at Maracanã Stadium.
"For Sydney, I just wanted to make the team. For Athens, I wanted to win gold for my country. For Beijing, I wanted to do something nobody else had done. In London, I wanted to make history," Phelps said.
"And now, I want to walk in the opening ceremony, take it all in, represent America in the best possible way and make my family proud."
The swimmer is notoriously known for his big appetite. While training for the Beijing Games in 2008, it was reported by several major U.S. media outlets that Phelps consumed 12,000 calories per day, which is roughly four times the recommended daily intake for an adult male.
The opening ceremony will be Friday at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
On Wednesday morning, it was announced that Michael Phelps was selected to be flag-bearer in a vote by members of the U.S. Olympic team.
The 31-year-old was an obvious choice heading into his fifth Summer Games. He has won 18 gold medals and 22 in total, far more than any other athlete.
Phelps becomes only the second swimmer to lead the U.S. delegation in the opening ceremony after Gary Hall became the first at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
"I'm honoured 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.
Phelps skipped the opening ceremony at the last three Olympics to rest up for the grueling 400-metre individual medley, which is held the next day. But with that event no longer a part of his program, Phelps is available to carry the flag in Friday night's ceremony at Maracanã Stadium.
"For Sydney, I just wanted to make the team. For Athens, I wanted to win gold for my country. For Beijing, I wanted to do something nobody else had done. In London, I wanted to make history," Phelps said.
"And now, I want to walk in the opening ceremony, take it all in, represent America in the best possible way and make my family proud."
The swimmer is notoriously known for his big appetite. While training for the Beijing Games in 2008, it was reported by several major U.S. media outlets that Phelps consumed 12,000 calories per day, which is roughly four times the recommended daily intake for an adult male.
The opening ceremony will be Friday at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
