A four-time Olympian who has won fourteen gold medals and has said he's retiring at the top of the London Games, Michael Phelps would seem the perfect athlete to guide the us into the gap ceremony on Friday.But the respect of leading the U.S. team into a Summer Games has seldom gone to the apparent alternative.Since gap ceremonies became a part of the Olympics in 1906 and U.S. team manager Matthew Halpin was named flag-bearer, few, if any, of these chosen for the work may well be described as being household names.Four-years ago at the Beijing Games the honour fell on refugee Lopez Lomong, one amongst the "Lost Boys" from war-ravaged Sudan who found a home within the us, an unknown one,500 meter runner who has never appeared in an Olympic final.
At the 2004 Athens Olympics, it absolutely was Dawn Staley, a triple gold medalist on the women's basketball team charged with carrying the flag whereas kayaker Cliff Meidl, who nearly lost each his legs during a construction accident then battled back to become a two-time Olympian, handled duties in Sydney.This year the U.S. flag-bearer can come back from a pool of 530 athletes.The captains from twenty six groups every recommend a nominee followed by a secret vote where inspirational stories and long service have typically carried the maximum amount weight as performance and results.
"That's what makes it special, they're not solely representing their country however they're conjointly representing their teammates," said us Olympic Committee (USOC) spokesperson Patrick Sandusky."This is someone the athletes themselves have selected, they need gotten along during a space and determined who they need to carry the flag."It's not one thing from a bureaucratic standpoint or trading a favour, it is the athletes themselves deciding who they assume is the right person."
By any customary, Phelps is also deserving of the respect however won't even be swimming's nominee.Competing within the 400m individual medley on the primary day of the Games, Phelps has removed himself from thought and can watch the gap ceremonies from the comfort of couch as he prepares to chase a lot of Olympic glory."There isn't any probability he can try this [carry the flag] as a result of he swims consecutive day," Phelps long-time coach Bob Bowman told Reuters. "Unfortunately he's not getting to have that have."
No swimmer has led the U.S. into an Olympic stadium since Gary Hall Sr. at the 1976 Games however even while not Phelps there are no shortage of deserving candidates, some globally famous others unknown outside of their respective sports.Los Angeles Lakers all-star guard Kobe Bryant, one amongst the world's best known athletes, are going to be given serious thought as
will five-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams, who is attempting to feature to her haul of 2 Olympic gold medals when winning the doubles at the 2000 and 2008 Games.
At the opposite finish of the spectrum are candidates like equestrian Karen O'Connor, the oldest athlete within the team who is competing in her fifth Games and world champion judoka Kayla Harrison, who was sexually abused by a former-coach and has
become a flagbearer for abuse victims and can try and become America's initial gold medalist within the sport
At the 2004 Athens Olympics, it absolutely was Dawn Staley, a triple gold medalist on the women's basketball team charged with carrying the flag whereas kayaker Cliff Meidl, who nearly lost each his legs during a construction accident then battled back to become a two-time Olympian, handled duties in Sydney.This year the U.S. flag-bearer can come back from a pool of 530 athletes.The captains from twenty six groups every recommend a nominee followed by a secret vote where inspirational stories and long service have typically carried the maximum amount weight as performance and results.
"That's what makes it special, they're not solely representing their country however they're conjointly representing their teammates," said us Olympic Committee (USOC) spokesperson Patrick Sandusky."This is someone the athletes themselves have selected, they need gotten along during a space and determined who they need to carry the flag."It's not one thing from a bureaucratic standpoint or trading a favour, it is the athletes themselves deciding who they assume is the right person."
By any customary, Phelps is also deserving of the respect however won't even be swimming's nominee.Competing within the 400m individual medley on the primary day of the Games, Phelps has removed himself from thought and can watch the gap ceremonies from the comfort of couch as he prepares to chase a lot of Olympic glory."There isn't any probability he can try this [carry the flag] as a result of he swims consecutive day," Phelps long-time coach Bob Bowman told Reuters. "Unfortunately he's not getting to have that have."
No swimmer has led the U.S. into an Olympic stadium since Gary Hall Sr. at the 1976 Games however even while not Phelps there are no shortage of deserving candidates, some globally famous others unknown outside of their respective sports.Los Angeles Lakers all-star guard Kobe Bryant, one amongst the world's best known athletes, are going to be given serious thought as
will five-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams, who is attempting to feature to her haul of 2 Olympic gold medals when winning the doubles at the 2000 and 2008 Games.
At the opposite finish of the spectrum are candidates like equestrian Karen O'Connor, the oldest athlete within the team who is competing in her fifth Games and world champion judoka Kayla Harrison, who was sexually abused by a former-coach and has
become a flagbearer for abuse victims and can try and become America's initial gold medalist within the sport
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