The USA men’s team hasn’t stayed in an Olympic village since the 1992 Dream Team, and USA Basketball foots the bill, ESPN reports.
Advertisement
The 31-year-old has never walked in the Opening Ceremony before, so this will be a first for him in multiple ways. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Phelps won a record eight gold medals. The Opening Ceremony will take place this Friday, and Phelps first race will take place the following Monday.
As the country’s most successful Olympic athlete with 22 medals – 18 of them gold – he is an obvious choice for the honor – which was decided by a vote from his fellow athletes – given this is believed to be his final Olympics.
“I’m really excited to see what he can do at this Olympics”, said Lochte, an 11-times Olympic medallist who has duelled with Phelps throughout their careers. He has also been added to the 4x100m freestyle relay team, while he is also expected to be named to the 4x100m medley relay team.
Interestingly, as the flag bearer, Phelps will be wearing a special jacket that will illuminate during the opening ceremony.
Most of the Rio Olympics athletes will be staying at the spartan facilities at the Athletes’ Village.
Shower heads falling off, a lack of electricity, holes in the wall, water issues, robbery – those are just some of the things that both the men and women’s United States basketball teams will not have to worry about during the Olympics. “In London, I wanted to make history”, Phelps said.
“King of the Olympic Rings” Michael Phelps already has more medals than any other athlete in history, Fox Sports notes.
And this year? It’s the most decorated Olympian of all-time.
The opening ceremony is slated for Friday. Phelps will also be the first swimmer to carry the flag since Gary Hall in 1976.
Phelps and his fiancee, Nicole Johnson, welcomed a son, Boomer, in May.
Advertisement
“I said this in 2012 and he’s back”.
