Obama fetes US Olympians, Paralympians
WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama was in his element as the self-styled “fan-in-chief” on Friday as he feted United States Olympians and Paralympians at the White House.
“We could not be prouder of you,” Obama told a crowd of athletes that included Olympic swimming superstar Michael Phelps and Paralympic swimming gold medalist Brad Snyder, a Navy lieutenant who was blinded in 2011 by a bomb blast in Afghanistan.
“You gave us a summer that we will never forget,” he added.
The sports-mad president poked fun at his fandom, saying he was jealous that his wife, Michelle, was able to attend the Games and that watching them on television spurred his own workout efforts.
“Somehow, it didn’t quite work on me,” Obama said, drawing a laugh.
“I was able to catch a little bit of everything,” Obama said. “It was a great way to end the day, watching you guys do things that I did not think were humanly possible.”
The first lady, who led the official US delegation to the London Games opening ceremony in July, noted that the US competitors won more than 200 medals at the Olympics and Paralympics.
They topped the medals table in the Olympics with 46 gold medals and brought home a total of 104 medals before grabbing 98 medals in the Paralympics.
“I want you to know how inspired we are by all of you—your passion, your dedication, your courage,” the first lady said.
“This summer, people across the country— including some of the young people with us today— watched you compete and thought to themselves, you know what, if they can set a goal and work hard to reach it, maybe I can too, and maybe I can go a little farther and do a little better than people think I can.”
Obama did his best to make good on his promise to shake hands with everyone as the Marine band played.
The US flag-bearers at the Games, Olympic fencer Mariel Zagunis and Paralympic flag-bearer Snyder, presented the Obamas with flags carried during the opening ceremonies of both events.
After the White House welcome for the Olympians and Paralympians, Obama attended a somber homecoming for the remains of four Americans killed this week in an attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya.