“He Was So Much Taller”: Simone Biles Was Scared of Embarrassing US, When Given the Responsibility of 6’2 Tall Michael Phelps’ at 2016 Rio Olympics

Following Michael Phelps’ footsteps is not a challenge for the weak. Whether it is to follow him in his sport or take his reigns as a representative of the US contingent during an event, Phelps leaves behind some big shoes to fill. But for Simone Biles, it was a moment of ‘Cometh the Hour Cometh the Woman.’ The celebrated gymnast once followed in Phelps’ footsteps and represented her nation’s Olympic contingent.

In her autobiography, Courage to Soar, Simone recalled the iconic incident. She wrote about what it felt like when she discovered she was chosen as the flag bearer. And what the entire experience was like.

Simone Biles recalled being the flag bearer

The 2016 Rio Olympics is arguably one of the most iconic games of all time. Not only did these games mark the end of the Olympic careers of Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps, but it also witnessed the snapping of the career of Ryan Lochte. The games also saw another historic feat. Simone Biles became the first-ever US gymnast to secure four gold medals at the same games. To commemorate the achievement, the US athletes voted Biles as their flag bearer for the closing ceremony.

Recalling the incident, Biles talks about what it felt like when she first heard the news. She wrote, “No one was more surprised than I was when my agent gave me the news that team USA- all the athletes in all the sports we’d competed in over the past seventeen days- had voted for me to carry the American flag at the closing ceremony.”

But the four foot eight inches tall gymnast’s primary concern was not following in the footsteps of Michael Phelps. It was about carrying a pole nearly twice her size. She wrote Phelps carried the pole easily during the ceremony. “But he was so much taller than I was. I knew I was so strong, but the flag had looked ginormous and hard to hold.” Biles realized being selected by her peers for the assignment was a huge honor, but “I was secretly worried that I’d embarrass my country.”

READ MORE: “People Were Pissed Off”- Simone Biles Once Felt Embarrassed for Winning Four Gold Medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics

Sure enough, Simone carried the pole with ease. She also revealed the pole was not as heavy as it looked. Incidentally, the honor also meant that Simone would be the first gymnast flag bearer since 1936.

Michael Phelps as the flag bearer

While many athletes fear being named as the flag-bearers because of the added pressure, Phelps quickly snatched up the opportunity. After being named as the flag-bearer for his nation at the Rio Olympics’ opening ceremony, Michael could not hide his elation.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 13: Gold medalist Michael Phelps of the United States poses during the medal ceremony for the Men’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final on Day 8 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

He texted his mother in the middle of the night, telling her to wake up early for a “big announcement.” But Phelps could not hold it in and spilled the beans. His mother, Debbie Phelps, told him how proud of him she was. His fiancé (at the time) admitted she could not stop crying and was excited to watch him during the ceremony. Discussing the honor, Michael said, “For me, to be able to have the opportunity to carry the flag of the United States in the opening ceremony is a dream come true.”

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The 2016 US flag bearers turned out to be the perfect example of passing the baton. The US flag aptly passed from the hands of a retiring legend to one in the making.