RIO DE JANEIRO — U.S. Olympic team flag bearer Michael Phelps is not going to stay for the duration of Friday night’s opening ceremony, as almost every other athlete will, but instead will be whisked out by NBC staffers and driven back to the Olympic Village, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
It is believed that Phelps will be the first U.S. flag bearer ever to leave the opening ceremony early. He is expected to depart not long after bringing the U.S. flag into Maracana Stadium and joining the other flag bearers in bringing their flags together in the ceremony.
It is not unprecedented for other high-profile athletes who were not carrying the flag to leave the opening ceremony early. One notable example is the U.S. men’s basketball “Dream Team” at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
As a swimmer who often had to compete the next day, Phelps had not marched in the opening ceremony in his previous Olympic Games from 2000-2012. Most swimmers, gymnasts, rowers and others who participate in events at the beginning of the Games do not march, not because they don’t want to, but because athletes must remain on their feet for hours before, during and after the ceremony, not the ideal preparation for the most important competition of the athletes' lives.
Phelps does not compete Saturday during the first day of the swimming competition, but will be participating Sunday night in the U.S. men’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay, USA TODAY Sports reported Monday.
The topic of an early departure from the stadium was not brought up by Phelps in a news conference Wednesday when he discussed the dilemma swimmers and other athletes face over whether or not to attend the opening ceremony.
“Somebody said it was about eight hours,” Phelps said. “I’ve been told it’s 4-4 ½ hours, so we’ll see. I have to do it. I want to do it, just because of the honor.”
Phelps, 31, is the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 medals, 18 of them gold. He is expected to swim in five events here.