On Sept. 30, President Biden welcomed 400 Olympic and Paralympic athletes to the White House to recognize their achievements during this summer’s Paris Olympics games. Gathered on the South Lawn, members of Team USA were cheered on by family, friends, coaches and peers as the President thanked them for bringing back a total of 230 medals – the most combined medals in the world.
Before President Biden made his speech, several athletes graced the stage. First, gold-medalist swimmer Torri Huske spoke about the dedication and sacrifice it takes to be an Olympian. She was part of two world-record relay teams this summer, a true testimony to her hard work paying off. Huske also referenced the broader, global implications of an event such as the Olympics.
She said, “Everyone talks about how the Olympics and Paralympics foster peace and international solidarity, and it’s true. They unite countries in the spirit of competition…With each competition, we represented not only the flag and its people, but we upheld the legacy that is the United States.”
Next, an aspiring Paralympian took the stage. Adrina Castro, a young wheelchair basketball player, hopes to represent Team USA at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic games. At the White House, she charismatically spoke on the importance of inclusivity in sports.
“It takes a community to accomplish great things. Growing up with a disability can be a very isolating and lonely experience,” Castro shared. “I believe if we take the same approach as a community, then we can change the perception of disability and change the world for the better.”
Castro then introduced Paul Schulte, who is a co-captain of Team USA’s Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team and has participated in four Paralympic games since 2000. Due to this longevity, Schulte has become an icon for young athletes like Castro. He spoke with pride about what it means to represent the United States for so long.
Schulte reflected, “Having the heart of an Olympian or a Paralympian means persistent gratitude for our country, making sacrifices, and facing adversity…We chose to rise above, expelling feelings of defeat and striving for something greater. These qualities are really what being an American is all about, aren’t they?”
He then handed over the stage to President Biden, donning a patriotic Team USA cap, for his remarks. He thanked the athletes for the great honor they’ve bestowed upon the country, and formally welcomed them to the White House with a joke.
Biden quipped, “This is not my house. This is your house, this is your house. That’s the God’s truth. Team USA’s house. I’m just a temporary resident, only a couple of months left.”
The crowd chuckled at President Biden’s remarks. The President also apologized for not making it to Paris in person to watch the Games, but made sure to mention that the Olympics and Paralympics were a mainstay on his Oval Office television screen. He continued the previous speakers’ themes of national pride and American values.
“We’re the only nation that thinks anything is possible when we set our minds to do it. That’s what all of you embody,” Biden rallied.
He concluded his speech by reminding the audience of the power of sports, both in terms of its unifying power and because of the impact these athletes have on the next generation.
“We owe you. Yes, you’ve sacrificed, but you have to look at who you lift up. Your families wept with joy, filled with pride. Your hometowns honor you,” Biden reminded the athletes. “And to your fellow Americans, most of whom you’ve never known, you’ve become their heroes.”
At the end of the ceremony, three Olympic and Paralympic flagbearers gifted President Biden an honorary Team USA jacket: rower Nick Mead, wheelchair basketball player Steve Serio and sitting volleyball player Nicky Nieves. Along with the other 400 athletes in attendance, they posed for a group photo that represents the togetherness and prowess of American sports.
