President Biden hosted a celebration for Team USA at the White House. (Photo: Jordyn Britton/HUNewsService.com.)
By Jordan Britton
Howard University News Service
On a rainy afternoon, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic class of 2024 stood on bleachers behind President Biden as he congratulated Team USA on winning 231 medals at the summer games in Paris.
“Yes, you’ve sacrificed, but you have to look at who you lift up,” the president said, looking out at their poncho-draped loved ones and admirers on the South Lawn of the White House. “Your families wept with joy, filled with pride.”
“Your hometowns honor you, and to your fellow Americans, most of whom you’ve never known, you’ve become their heroes.”
Biden joked about being banned from the competitions. “Because I’m president, and I cause a commotion when I go places, they wouldn’t let me go the Olympics,” he explained. “But I watched it all.”
“In the next few years, we get to showcase to the world from our own backyard —
the World Cup in 2026, hosted by the United States of America, and the Los Angeles Summer Games in ’28,” Biden said. “I won’t be president. They can’t stop me from going there then.”
During the celebration, Olympic gold medalist Torri Huske also spoke, commending Team USA on its eighth consecutive chart-topping performances. Olympic and Paralympic athletes brought home 126 and 105 medals, respectively.
“Each medal is a testament to our hard work, determination and grit,” said Huske, who won a gold medal in swimming for the 100-meter butterfly. “Behind each of these moments of greatness are years of sacrifice. Beyond the medals, so many personal bests were achieved and iconic performances etched into our history.”
“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.”
The swimmer’s mother and father, Ying and Jim Huske, also spoke, representing the athletes’ parents. In addition to the Huske family, speakers included Paralympic basketball player Paul Schulte and wheelchair basketball player Adrina Castro, a Paralympic hopeful.
“As you know, none of them made it today to where they are without the help of others,” Jim Huske said. “It takes a village. Each athlete here today is here because contributions others made, sometimes small and sometimes big, acts of kindness.”
The Huskes also shared their story.
“Only in America can a fourth-generation Polish-American meet and marry a first-generation Chinese immigrant and live the American dream through and because of their daughter,” Huske said. “And the thing is, ours is but one of many stories of these Paralympic athletes and these Olympic athletes where we can say ‘only in America.’”
“Only in America’ is a sentiment that President Biden often shares.
As his term concludes, the president has been adamant about his optimistic outlook for the country, citing the power and prestige of the United States a number of times in recent months. He did not stray from this sentiment during his remarks with Team USA.
“There’s nothing like the simple truth that’s already been stated: only in America,” Biden said. “And it’s a great honor to represent our nation and to hear those letters: USA. USA. USA.”
As the President concluded his address to Team USA and the crowd in attendance, he reaffirmed the notion he had alluded to throughout his remarks.
“Folks, I’ve never been more optimistic about our future, Biden said. “There is nothing we can’t do when we do it together — nothing.”
As the president made his way off the South Lawn, he paused, taking selfies and shaking hands with members of Team USA on his way out.
Jordyn Britton is a reporter for HUNewsService.com.