The sun set on the 2024 Paris Olympics on August 11. 200 National Olympic Committees and the International Olympic Committee Refugee Olympic Team sent in 10,500 athletes to compete over 17 days. Team USA successfully took home 126 Olympic medals: 40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze. They have successfully topped the medal chart for the 8th consecutive game. On September 30, President Joe Biden welcomed the athletes who represented the nation to the White House.

Shortly before they embarked on their Parisian journey, President Biden shared a message for the squad on the official POTUS X account. The caption read, “Our Olympic athletes are the reason so many of us believe we can do big things. Bring it home, @TeamUSA.” But what did the President have to say to them? “Let’s go, Team USA, you’re the best in the world,” he stated. Throughout the Summer Games’ history, the United States has led the world in Olympic medals with a total of 2,761 medals from contesting in 29 Olympic Games. 

On the other hand, in the Paralympic Games, the nation ranked in 3rd place with 105 medals: 36 gold, 42 silver, and 27 bronze. President Biden continued, “And you’re going to show the world again. Go Team USA.” As he welcomed the Olympians and Paralympians at the White House, Biden called the States the “greatest sports nation in the history of the world.” Quite a bold statement, but the numbers definitely are a testament to that.

Addressing the athletes on the South Lawn, Biden exclaimed, “Thank you for representing the very best of America.” He confessed that his staff, just like the rest of the nation, watched Team USA at the Olympics. “In fairness, I had the TV on in the Oval Office as well,” he stated. President Biden also spoke about the absence at the Paris Games. He wasn’t authorized to attend the games in the City of Light due to it being too disruptive.

But the next Summer Games take place in Los Angeles. “I won’t be president, they can’t stop me from going there then,” he admitted in jest. President Biden also noted how the athletes act as role models for the younger generation in the country. Hailing the athletes for setting examples, he stated how the youngsters would believe in themselves by watching them put their best step forward. However, while he couldn’t grace the French capital with his presence, someone else from the White House did. 

Amidst Joe Biden’s absence, First Lady Jill Biden Steps into Paris

Three years ago, the first lady accompanied the US delegation during the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. In an uncertain situation with COVID restrictions and empty stadiums, Jill Biden took on the role of a cheerleader mom stand-in for several American athletes whose families couldn’t be there in person. Similarly, she flew nearly 4,000 miles to Paris to do it all over again.

Her spokesperson, Vanessa Valdivia, stated, “The First Lady is excited to head to the Olympic Games, where we are all united as a country in support of one team: Team USA.” However, this is out of the blue for Jill Biden. Her office described her as an avid sports fan and stated she was excited to greet Olympic athletes and families during the trip. She also watched the Opening Ceremony unravel before the games. What did you think of President Joe Biden’s Paris Olympics message? Let us know in the comments below!