U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed the members of the American Olympic and Paralympic teams to the White House to celebrate their accomplishments over the past two months in Rio.
The visit took place Thursday as athletes had the opportunity to mingle with the Obamas and Vice President Joe Biden before the President spoke in front of the assembled crowd of athletes.
“Our Olympians came in first so many more times than anybody else,” Obama said to open his speech. “It wasn’t even close—46 golds, not to brag.”
Obama’s many individual shout-outs included Olympic swimmers Simone Manuel and Katie Ledecky.
“Only one African American has ever won an Olympic swimming gold, and that was Simone Manuel!” he said.
Obama admitted to being “nervous that [Ledecky] was going to ask me to hold all her medals when she was speaking [today] or something. She obliterates her own records in the 400 and the 800. She LAPPED the field in the 800. You all see it on TV—like there was no one else in the pool?”
Obama also called out Michael Phelps for breaking a 2000-year-old record for most career medals dating back to the ancient Olympic Games in Greece, as well as Paralymic swimmer Brad Snyder for winning three gold medals after losing his eyesight while serving in the military in Afghanistan.
While wrapping up his speech, Obama joked that “if I keep going longer [in the speech], I’m going to get the Phelps face from you guys.”
Obama expressed how much he admired how the various Olympic and Paralympic teams came together in support of one goal: representing their country to the best of their abilities.
“I want to say just how proud all of you made not just Michelle and me but every American,” he said. “We admire your athleticism but also your character.”
Notably, absent, of course, were Ryan Lochte, Jimmy Feigen, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger as part of the penalties for their behavior early in the morning of August 14 in Rio.
Tweets from White House Visit
Today’s office: @WhiteHouse. #swimunited pic.twitter.com/j1RLOXkdow
— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) September 29, 2016
.@USASwimming enjoying the @WhiteHouse! ?? #TeamUSAinDC pic.twitter.com/QyLalZUdAb
— U.S. Olympic Team (@TeamUSA) September 29, 2016
So I cried in front of President Obama and the First Lady. What an awesome day!
— Simone Manuel (@simone_manuel) September 29, 2016
Just met @POTUS @FLOTUS & @JoeBiden ??!!! #WhiteHouse pic.twitter.com/6JnFf2rgmX
— Cody Miller (@swimiller) September 29, 2016
Obama: I think I remember your race
Me: no way?
Obama: yeah your celebration gave me chills
…Best Day Ever??— Cody Miller (@swimiller) September 29, 2016
My view right now ?? #TeamUSAmeetsthePOTUS pic.twitter.com/mZW7ancGZ1
— Jess Parratto (@jessicaparratto) September 29, 2016
nice and God Bless you!
first group of humans to adorn the White House in the last 8 years!
Well done, awesome guys. Very proud of u Leslie!
Elizabeth Marks deserves special honor!