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Team USA Visits the White House

Summary: 
The President and First Lady welcome the 2012 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams to the White House to honor their participation and success in this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.
President Barack Obama delivers remarks to the 2012 United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams

President Barack Obama, with Vice President Joe Biden and First Lady Michelle Obama, delivers remarks to the 2012 United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams on the South Lawn of the White House, Sept. 14, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Today, the President and First Lady welcomed the 2012 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams to the White House to honor their participation and success in this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. 

At an event on the South Lawn, Mrs. Obama told the athletes that she was impressed not only by the 200-plus medals they brought home, but also by their dedication and hard work leading up to the games.

I want you to know how inspired we are by all of you -- your passion, your dedication, your courage. This summer, people across the country -- including some of the young people with us today -- watched you compete and thought to themselves, you know what, if they can set a goal and work hard to reach it, maybe I can too, and maybe I can go a little farther and do a little better than people think I can. They saw all of you out there giving 100 percent, overcoming all kinds of obstacles, representing our country with such determination and pride. 

President Obama -- who shared that he was able to catch some of the Olympic events thanks to mastering his DVR -- told the athletes that they “could not have been better ambassadors and better representatives for the United States and what we stand for.” 

And one of the great things about watching our Olympics is we are a portrait of what this country is all about -- people from every walk of life, every background, every race, every faith. It sends a message to the world about what makes America special. It speaks to the character of this group, how you guys carried yourselves. And it’s even more impressive when you think about the obstacles that many of you have had to overcome not just to succeed at the games, but to get there in the first place. 

Check out a behind the scenes video of the event and highlights from Twitter below, or on Storify.

Team USA Visits the White House

The President and First Lady welcomed the 2012 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams to the White House to honor their participation and success in this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.

Storified by The White House · Fri, Sep 14 2012 14:52:49

Today Barack & I will honor @USOlympic & @USParalympics teams at the White House. I hope you'll join us & say #ThanksTeamUSA! -moThe White House
The @WhiteHouse lawn starting to get packed! Watch the President speak LIVE at 10am ET right here http://bit.ly/Q8kG1O #WHTeamUSAUS Olympic Team
Heading to the #whitehouse today with the #olympic2012 team!!! Fun day!!Michael Phelps
Team USA Athletes headed to The White House http://instagr.am/p/PjgLRanJ1i/Lolo Jones
White house looking good! #WHTeamusa http://pic.twitter.com/S1SDOOYpCarli Lloyd
About to start the ceremony at the White House in 10 minutes! Proud to be here with the rest of Team USA!! http://pic.twitter.com/fqEAq1zbJustin Zook
A great shot of some of the U.S. #olympic Women's #volleyball team in front of the #whitehouse http://pic.twitter.com/kdyCzxfjUSA Volleyball
Me and @jamienieto at the White House http://pic.twitter.com/8Q3AUnmEDawn Harper
Loving all of these tweets from our athletes at the White House! Enjoy the celebration! #WHTeamUSAUSATF
Happening now: The President & First Lady honor @USOlympic & @USParalympics teams. Watch: http://wh.gov/live Follow: @WHLive #WHTeamUSAThe White House
First Lady Michelle Obama: "Hello, Team USA! And welcome to the White House!" #WHTeamUSAWhite House Live
RT @WHLive: First Lady Michelle Obama: "Our Olympians and Paralympians brought home more than 200 medals from London!" #WHTeamUSALori Zimmerman
So fun to see our Olympians again. It helps cure our post-Olympic blues! #WHTeamUSA http://www.chicagonow.com/raising-world-citizens/2012/09/i-miss-the-summ... Thompson
I wonder how the student olympians get excused from class? "Um I can't come to class today because I am meeting the President" #WHTeamUSAClaire Wind
President Obama: "I am the Fan-in-Chief!" #WHTeamUSAWhite House Live
President Obama: "As Olympians and Paralympians, you find the strength to keep pushing – on the good days and the bad days." #WHTeamUSAWhite House Live
#TeamUSA was honored to hear the President's and First Lady's speech! Now time for some serious handshaking http://instagr.am/p/Pjzh9iLIQS/ #WHTeamUSAUS Olympic Team
President Obama: "We could not be prouder of you. You gave us a summer we will never forget." #WHTeamUSAWhite House Live
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Today I got to shake our president's, hand and wear my olympic gold medal around my neck at the same time! #WHTeamUSATyler McGill
#TeamUSA was honored to hear the President's and First Lady's speech! Now time for some serious handshaking http://instagr.am/p/Pjzh9iLIQS/ #WHTeamUSAUS Olympic Team
Thank you to @whitehouse for making this day so incredible for #TeamUSA! Check out photos here: http://bit.ly/NsyiIa #WHTeamUSAUS Olympic Team
President Obama and Mrs. Obama Honor Team USA at the White Housewhitehouse


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