[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 40 (Monday, October 13, 2008)]
[Pages 1307-1309]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
<R04>
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. 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.
[[Page 1308]]
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 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.
[[Page 1309]]
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.
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 Phil 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.