Rio 2016 Olympics - Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 18 gold medals among his career haul of 22, will carry the U.S. flag at the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics.
The most successful Olympic athlete of all time Michael Phelps. Photo: Photosport
The U.S. Olympic Committee said that Phelps, who will be the first American male swimmer to compete at five Games, had been chosen in a vote of fellow team members to lead the delegation into the Maracana stadium.
Phelps, who won eight of his golds in Beijing in 2008, is set to add to his haul in Rio with three individual events as well as relays.
"I'm honored to be chosen, proud to represent the U.S., and humbled by the significance of carrying the flag and all it stands for," said Phelps.
"For Sydney (in 2000), I just wanted to make the team. For Athens, I wanted to win gold for my country. For Beijing, I wanted to do something nobody else had done. In London, I wanted to make history.
"And now, I want to walk in the Opening Ceremony, take it all in, represent America in the best possible way and make my family proud. This time around, it's about so much more than medals."
-Reuters
