(ATR)Athletes and other Olympic figures gathered in Washington D.C. for a morning tour of the White House anda meeting with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.
"The story of this year’s Team USA is all about firsts," is how the president began his speech.
He goes on to recognize every athlete and team to have broken records or been the first for the U.S. to win a particular event this year. Among those mentioned were Simone Biles, who became the first American woman to win four gold medals in gymnastics in a single Games, andfencer Ibtihaj Muhammad,the first American female athlete to compete in a hijab.
Click here for more photos of Team USA!
Obama also acknowledged Michael Phelps breaking a 2,000 year record for having the most individual Olympic titles.
"This year’s Summer Olympians gave us enough milestones and moments to last the next four years," Obama states.
Obama concludes his speech expressing how proud he was with Team USA and the inspiration that these athletes have given not only him but the citizens of the country. He also takes the time to recognize recently appointed ambassadors for the USOC and Olympic medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos who performed a controversial silent protest during the 1968 Mexico City Games.
Tommie Smith and John Carlos are currently featured in the new African American Museum of History and Culture located in Washington, D.C.
Ending the meeting, the President was awarded with decorated surfboards in recognition of surfing making its debut at the next Summer Olympic Games in 2020.
Last night, the U.S. Olympic Committee honored four athletes and two teams with the Team USA Award presented by Dow recognizing their achievements at the Rio Games.
Athletes were rewarded in six categories including male, female and team of both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Winners included: Olympic swimmers Katie Ledecky and Michael Phelps, the U.S. women’s gymnastics team (Gymnastics Final Five), Paralympic track and field athlete Tatyana McFadden, Paralympic swimmer Brad Snyder and the U.S. Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team.
Olympic figures were also recognized during the ceremony.
The "Coach of the Games" award was given to the U.S. Olympic Women’s Water Polo Team head coach Adam Krikorian who led the team to their second straight Olympic gold medal.
The late Muhammad Ali was also recognized with the "Jesse Owens Olympic Spirit" award, which was accepted by his wife Lonnie Ali. Ali was widely known not only for his dedication to his life as a boxer but his fightfor racial and religious equality.
Team USA won most medals overall during this year's Rio Summer Olympic Games, 46 of those being gold.
Written by Courtney Colquitt
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