H/T to Bestswim.com and Alex Pussieldi for discovering Phelps’ statements on Opening Ceremonies.
On Sunday Michael Phelps told his Facebook fans via live stream that he will not be walking at the Opening Ceremonies at the Rio Games.
You can check out the Facebook video below. He starts talking about Opening Ceremonies around 4:45.
Phelps states in the video that he will not be attending the Opening Ceremonies, and also pointed out that he has never been to an Opening Ceremonies in his Olympic career. He explains how swimming is the next day and that it is hard to be on your feet for so long and then go and swim the next day.
At the London Olympics, Phelps did not march but his excuse was more time-sensitive, with the 400 IM going off that next morning. Since Phelps isn’t swimming the 400 IM, and from an individual standpoint his first event is 3 days after Opening Ceremonies, he would have had a bigger gap before this year’s events (with his relay participation still in the air).
Phelps’ absence will disqualify him for the running of flag bearer in what he claims again to be his final Olympics.
In Rio, Phelps will be swimming only 3 individual events, the 100 and 200 fly and the 200 IM. This schedule is comparatively light when juxtaposed with his schedules from Beijing and London, but including relays Phelps will have a busy schedule.
i remember you had an article four years ago, how many swimmers are flag bearer in London. if you put a new one for Rio on the website would be great.
Good for him. Wise decision.
the Opening Ceremonies are very demanding on the athletes. Anyone swimming on the first 4 days has to really consider the impact on their performance. Olympic Team athletes competing in the second week are more likely to be available as flag- bearers
As someone else mentioned, this isn’t a big deal. Hardly any of the swimmers ever walk in the opening ceremony.
Except that he has no individual events the first day, no 400IM. Must already know he is on the 4x100FR relay, which is first day.
Very Phelps like. Highly focused and somewhat selfish. Hope it pays off in gold. Super talent when he’s submersed in water. Reminds me of Michael Jordan.
We are all selfish. And that is a fact.
That’s what I like about Phelps!
He just focuss on thing that will help him perform better.
He is most focussed which separates him from the rest of the swimmers ..
And as we all know “life is all about making the right decisions ”
GO PHELPSY!
He can be the flag bearer for the closing ceremony
there’s no flagbearer in the closing ceremony.
There most certainly is one. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_flag_bearers_for_the_United_States_at_the_Olympics