President Biden on Saturday praised the Olympic athletes who represented the United States in Tokyo this summer, telling them “you made me so damn proud.”
In a virtual meeting with Team USA, the president lauded the Olympians for persevering after the games were postponed a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I don’t think there’s a harder Olympics to get ready for. You practiced for four years, you got ready and then COVID hit, and you had to wait another year,” Biden said.
The president said the athletes reminded him of America’s greatness and “make us look so good as a country.”
“These are the things that people look at around the world, more than anything that I do as your president, or other people do in public life. They get the impression of who we are as Americans,” Biden said. “You handled yourself with such grace and such decency and just — you made me so damn proud.”
The congratulatory call was organized ahead of the Olympics’ closing ceremony, scheduled for Sunday at 8 p.m. local time in Tokyo. First lady Jill Biden, who led the U.S. delegation to the Games’ opening ceremony and attended several events, also joined Saturday’s call and congratulated the U.S. athletes.
As of Saturday evening, Team USA led the medal count, winning 108 total medals — including 36 gold medals, 39 silver medals and 33 bronze medals — though China held the most gold medals with 38.
Among the accomplishments of Team USA, track star Allyson Felix became the most decorated track and field star in U.S. history after winning a bronze and gold medal.
Gymnastics star Simone Biles, who sat out most of the competition to focus on her mental health, tied former gymnast Shannon Miller for the most Olympic medals won.
The Hill
