    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [October 7, 2008]
    [Pages 1276-1279]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Honoring the 2008 United States Summer Olympic and Paralympic
    Teams
    October 7, 2008

        The President. Thank you. Welcome. Good morning.
        Audience members. Good morning.
        The President. This is a special day for the White House.
    Laura and I are proud to welcome the greatest
    Olympic and Paralympic team ever assembled. And I bring greetings from
    the honorary captain of the Olympic teams, President George H.W.
    Bush; we call him 41.
        I want to thank the members of the Cabinet who are here and the
    administration. I want to thank the coaches and the team leaders, and
    the U.S. Olympic Committee leadership and staff for being here. We
    welcome the representatives of Chicago 2016 who are here. Members of the
    U.S. Armed Forces, moms, dads, girlfriends, boyfriends, supporters of
    the mighty Olympic team, we're glad you're here.
        I do want to welcome members of the President's Council on Physical
    Fitness and Sports----
        Audience member. Whoo! [Laughter]
        The President. ----including John Burke,
    the Chairman; Dot Richardson,
    the Vice Chairman--by the way, member of the 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic
    gold medal softball teams. And the reason I want to mention them is
    today the Health and Human Services is issuing its Physical Fitness
    Guidelines, and there's no better time to remind our fellow citizens
    that physical fitness will lead to a healthy America. Just look what's
    happened to the people surrounding me. [Laughter] And so we urge our
    fellow citizens to look at these guidelines and to take time out of your
    days to exercise. Now, not every one of you has to ride a mountain bike,
    but if you walk just 20 minutes a day, you'll help America and help
    yourself.
        Attending the Beijing Olympics was one of the great experiences of
    our lifetime. Laura and I had a fantastic
    experience. We will never forget the first night at the Bird's Nest for
    the spectacular opening ceremony. When the Team USA was announced, there
    was a notable increase in the cheers.

    [[Page 1277]]

    And then came the greatest sight of all: more than 500 America's--of
    America's finest athletes marching behind our flag, carried by Bernard
    Lagat [Lopez Lomong]. It was an incredible
    sight, and I know it was a moment that all of our athletes looked
    forward to, and it's a moment that we were so honored to share with you.
        In the weeks that followed, our Olympic team took part in the
    largest games ever held. Over 100,000 [10,000]* athletes competed in
    more than 300 events. An unprecedented 87 countries brought home medals.
    Forty-three world records were broken. About 4.7 billion viewers watched
    the Olympics.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        *White House correction.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        And with the eyes of the world turned on Beijing, our teams rose to
    the occasion. The Olympic team finished with the top medal count of 110
    medals.
        But more impressive was the decency and character that these
    Olympics brought on the world stage. I know you worked hard--the
    Olympics and Paralympic teams worked hard to get to this moment. Whether
    you won a medal or not, it really doesn't matter in the long run. What
    really matters is the honor you brought to your sports and to your
    families and to your country.
        And we thank you for the lasting memories that you gave us all. And
    so here are some of the lasting memories that I will take with me
    forever. First of all, the Water Cube--watching Jason Lezak touch out, I think it was the French team--[laughter]--
    on the 4x100 freestyle relay, and then watching the joy of his
    teammates, including Michael Phelps.
        People say, ``Did you ever get to meet Michael Phelps?'' I said, ``I did.'' ``So that was the highlight?'' I
    said, ``Not really; meeting his mother was
    more of a highlight.'' [Laughter] She reminded me of my mother--plain-spoken and full of love.
        So, Michael, we congratulate you. We
    thank you for joining us today, and we congratulate all the swimmers for
    the Olympic team.
        And how about our gymnasts, Nastia Liukin
    and Shawn Johnson? What I found interesting
    was that these champions were roommates while they were competing for
    gold. And one wonders whether or not that friendship would be damaged in
    the heat of the competition. The truth of the matter is, it wasn't. They
    showed the true Olympic spirit of being competitors in the gym but being
    friends in the dorm. And so we welcome these two champions here today,
    and we thank you for setting such a good example.
        So, as you know, I'm a baseball guy and have come to admire women's
    softball a lot.
        Audience member. Whoo!
        The President. Yes. [Laughter] So I know with us today are
    Finch, Duran,
    Abbott, Galindo,
    Lappin, Lowe,
    Berg, and Watley,
    members of the U.S. Olympic women's softball team.
        I bring this up because I really think that these women are an
    inspiration to young girls all across the globe, and the Olympics would
    be smart to keep women's softball as a part of its program. And I want
    to thank you for welcoming to your practice.
        I also want to welcome today a fellow Texan named Laura
    Wilkinson. And at Sydney, she stunned the
    world by taking gold. This summer, she returned to the Olympic stage for
    the third and final time, and she was fighting through injuries. But she
    brought such class to the arena. There was never any of this, ``woe is
    me, how pitiful is life.'' She said she was honored to compete. She and
    her husband have returned home to the great
    State of Texas to raise money for a new diving center in The Woodlands,
    Texas. In other words, she had put something back into the community.
    And I urge all of us, whether we're Olympic--Olympians or not, to
    recognize the opportunity to make the communities in

    [[Page 1278]]

    which we live a better place. Laura, welcome, and
    thank you for the example you have set.
        So I spent a little time at the beach volleyball arena. [Laughter] I
    got to meet Todd Rogers and Phil
    Dalhausser. These two men are incredible
    athletes, and they--it was really interesting to be there to watch them
    warm up. And then they introduced me to the Brazilian team and to the
    Italian team. And it was really a lot of fun, but not nearly as much fun
    as spending time with Misty May-Treanor
    and Kerri Walsh. [Laughter]
        These two women are not only great athletes, they're really great
    people. And I'm just so sorry that Misty May got injured on Dancing for
    the Stars. [Laughter] God, if only she had me as a partner, you know?
    [Laughter] Except I can't dance. [Laughter] But I wish those--you know,
    it's interesting, I read a comment from Misty May today. She said,
    ``Yes, I got hurt Dancing on the Stars, but I'll be back at the 2012
    Olympics.'' [Laughter]
        I also know that all of us were deeply touched by what happened to
    Hugh McCutcheon and his family.
    Nevertheless, we were greatly inspired when the men's volleyball team
    rallied. They won an incredible gold medal against all odds to really
    help lift up the coach's family and his spirits, as well as the whole
    Nation's spirits.
        I congratulate the men and women's basketball teams. You can just
    imagine what it was like when the men's basketball team asked me to get
    in one of their huddles right before the game against China. I was like
    a jockey. [Laughter] But they brought a lot of class to the courts, both
    teams did. What impressed me and Laura was that
    the men were there cheering on the women, and the women were there
    cheering on the men. There was ample opportunity for people to ``big
    shot'' it at the Olympics. Not our athletes. They were there for the
    right reason, to support their teams and to support their nations--our
    Nation.
        Now, one of the things that we really regret missing was the--being
    in the Bird's Nest for the 13th Paralympic Games. And we congratulate
    the athletes who are here as well. We recognize your hard work, and
    we're proud to call you Olympians.
        I'm particularly pleased to be here with those who have worn the
    uniform of our country. On the America
    team were 16 men and women who served the Nation in uniform, one of whom
    was Army Lieutenant Melissa Stockwell. She lost her leg while serving
    our country in Iraq. Four years after hard work, 4 years after
    significant rehabilitation, she qualified as a swimmer. And her
    teammates elected her as the flag bearer for the closing ceremonies. We
    welcome you, Melissa, and we welcome you all.
        Long after we leave the White House, Laura
    and I will remember the extraordinary spirit and kindness of the
    athletes that we have met here at the White House and in Beijing. One
    unforgettable moment came after swimmer Larsen Jensen won the bronze medal in the 400 freestyle relay. When
    he was presented his bouquet of flowers, he looked around the Water
    Cube, and he made a special delivery; he climbed into the stands, and he
    gave the bouquet to Laura. It was an incredibly kind gesture--and by the
    way, Larsen, our anniversary is next month if you'd like to go--
    [laughter]. He also told me something in private, where he said he looks
    forward to serving our country.
        Our Olympic athletes have served our country in many ways. But you
    have a chance to continue to serve. And we honor your service as
    athletes, and we look forward to honoring your service as worthy
    citizens of our great country.
        You amazed the world with your talent and grace and sportsmanship.
    You've inspired children to chase their dreams. You will be champions
    forever. May God bless you, and may God bless America.

    [[Page 1279]]

    Note: The President spoke at 9:33 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to the following members of the U.S.
    Olympic and Paralympic teams: runner Bernard Lagat; runner Lopez Lomong,
    in his capacity as flag bearer for the Olympic opening ceremony;
    swimmers Jason Lezak, Michael Phelps, and Larsen Jensen; gymnasts Nastia
    Liukin and Shawn Johnson; women's softball players Jennie Finch, Andrea
    Duran, Monica Abbott, Vicky Galindo, Lauren Lappin, Caitlin Lowe, Laura
    Berg, and Natasha Watley; diver Laura Wilkinson; men's beach volleyball
    players Todd Rogers and Philip Dalhausser; women's beach volleyball
    players Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh; men's volleyball head coach
    Hugh McCutcheon; and swimmer Melissa Stockwell, in her capacity as flag
    bearer for the Paralympic closing ceremony. He also referred to Deborah
    Phelps, mother of Michael Phelps; and Eriek Hulseman, husband of Laura
    Wilkinson.