On Sept. 30, 2024, over 400 Olympians and Paralympians visited the White House in recognition of their efforts and successes at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games this past summer.
The athletes gathered on the south lawn of the White House while President Joe Biden recited his address.
Biden called on the nation to “support all of our Team USA athletes” in recognition of those brave enough to represent our country as a whole. Additionally, he shared his pride in the United States and the athletes before him for contributing to making what he says is “the greatest sports nation in the history of the world.”
The White House gathering was monumental for the Team USA competitors and the president after the United States won 126 medals, the most out of any country competing for the eighth consecutive summer Olympic Games.
Gold medalist, and swimmer Torri Huske, Huske’s parents, wheelchair-basketball player Adrina Castro and Paralympic wheelchair basketball gold medalist Paul Schulte also had remarks at the event. Each speaker shared the honor and accomplishment not only of the single competitor, or the team but also of the nation to have the opportunity to support these figures in a moment of a lifetime. Two of the speakers, Jim and Ying Huske, remarked, “There’s a reason that we’re known as the best country in the world, and we not only have the medal count to back that up, but each of us has a story of how we fought to get here.”
Winning medals in the Olympics or Paralympics is an incredible achievement for any athlete. The medals represent not only the success of the single athlete who competed but also the success of the entire nation.
The 2028 games are set to be held in Los Angeles, Calif., making Biden’s remarks especially relevant. Biden himself mentioned that he plans to attend because he will no longer have his presidential duties.
It is an honor to compete in the Olympics, and this meaningful visit showed lots of gratitude and pride toward these amazing athletes.