US announces flag bearer for Rio 2016 Olympics opening ceremony
Team USA is kicking off the 2016 Rio Olympics by bestowing the honored title of flag bearer on the most decorated Olympian of all time, swimmer Michael Phelps.
The decision to allow the legendary athlete to lead Team USA into Rio's Maracanã Stadium during Friday's opening ceremony is fitting since Rio is set to be Phelps' final Olympic challenge.
In a interview Wednesday morning, Phelps told Today the honor is, "something I'm obviously looking forward to...There's definitely going to be a lot of emotions."
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Though it appeared as though we saw the last of the 18-time gold medalist after the 2012 Olympics, the swimmer ended his retirement back in April 2014 and announced he was training to compete in this year's games. The 2016 Rio Olympics will mark Phelps' fifth and likely final Games.
According to Today, Phelps will be the first swimmer since Gary Hall in 1976 to carry the U.S. flag during the opening ceremony.
Topics Olympics
Nicole is a Senior Editor at Mashable. She primarily covers entertainment and digital culture trends, and in her free time she can be found watching TV, sending voice notes, or going viral on Twitter for admiring knitwear. You can follow her on Twitter @nicolemichele5.
