Michael Phelps named flag-bearer for U.S. Olympic team
31-year-old with 18 gold medals was selected in vote by teammates
By The Associated Press
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.
BREAKING: <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelPhelps">@MichaelPhelps</a> has been selected as <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamUSA?src=hash">#TeamUSA</a>'s flag bearer for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rio2016?src=hash">#Rio2016</a>! 🇺🇸<br><br>➡️ <a href="https://t.co/CaoZadzEIl">https://t.co/CaoZadzEIl</a> <a href="https://t.co/Z1avS3jtth">pic.twitter.com/Z1avS3jtth</a>
—@TeamUSA"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.
In May, Phelps said on Facebook Live that he doesn't eat that much food anymore and only consumes what he needs. The 1.93-metre tall swimmer with size 14 feet is engaged to model Nicole Johnson, who gave birth to their son, Boomer Robert Phelps, on May 5, 2016.
5th Olympic Games
Phelps began his Olympic career at the age of 15 in the Sydney Games. The Rio Games will be his fifth time representing the U.S. at the Olympics in swimming.
The American swam the 100-metre butterfly in 49.82 seconds to set a new world record, which still stands today. He also holds world records in the 200 butterfly, 400 individual medley and holds shared titles with various U.S. teammates in the 4x100-metre freestyle relay, 4x200 freestyle relay and 4x100 medley relay.
Some of his records were broken when full-body "super suits" were permitted in competitive swimming, which have since been banned.
Phelps will compete in three individual events at Rio and could be a member of all three relay teams, giving him a good chance to take his already-staggering medal haul even higher.
"This time around, it's about so much more than medals," he said.
With files from CBC Sports