President Joe Biden sent a personal message to the athletes of Team USA, thanking them for “all you mean to our country.”
Biden said during a prerecorded message that aired Friday morning exclusively on TODAY, “When Jill came home from Tokyo, all she could talk about was you. Not just how incredible all of you athletes are in your endurance and years of dream and sacrifices, but she talked about your character, your courage.”
He added, “I know getting to the Olympics is a long journey, and the pandemic made it especially difficult and draining. It made the impossible even harder. But in you, a country saw itself. It saw what was possible.”
The president went on to explain the positive effects the athletes have had on Americans.
“I want you to know how much watching you compete means to all of us, to me particularly, especially all those little kids dreaming to be you one day,” Biden said. “Beyond the medals and the results, you remind us that we are stronger than we ever thought we were.”
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Biden explained how sports “raises issues that we should all care about, like our physical and mental wellness,” continuing, “And you’re helping to share something in common, something fundamental to who we are: a pride in those three letters, USA.”
He proceeded to thank the families and friends of the athletes, saying, “I also know the pride your families must feel. I know how hard it was for you and for them that they couldn’t be with you in person. Defining images of the Games are on Zoom and FaceTime, calls with families and communities crying and cheering with pure joy.”
Biden continued, “To all the families and friends of Team USA, thank you, as well. Watching you watch your child or your loved one and learning about your family’s stories is always one of my favorite things about watching the Olympics.”
Acknowledging the athletes are made up of different backgrounds, he said, “We’re a people who dare to dream, who do hard things and do extraordinary things. To all of you, thank you for showing what we can do together, as one America, as one team.”
Concluding his message, Biden invited the athletes to the White House.