First lady Michelle Obama embraces members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams during an event at the White House September 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. The U.S. team brought home 104 medals, 46 of them gold medals, from the games in London. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
U.S. President Barack Obama embraces Olympic sprinter Lolo Jones while welcoming members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams to the White House September 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
U.S. Olympic sprinter Manteo Mitchell (C) is appluaded by his teammates as President Barack Obama praised his ability to finish a race with a broken leg during a ceremony to welcome members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams to the White House September 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
U.S. President Barack Obama (2nd L) and Vice President Joe Biden (R) pose for photographs with members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams at the White House September 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Barack Obama greets members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams to the White House September 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Barack Obama (2nd L) and first lady Michelle Obama (L) pose for a photograph with Paralympic swimmer Brad Snyder and Olympic fencer Mariel Zagunis (R) after being presented with the flag that the members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams carried during opening and closing ceremonies in London during an event on the South Lawn of the White House September 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Olympic gold medal runner Dee Dee Trotter embraces U.S. President Barack Obama during an event with members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams at the White House September 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. The U.S. team brought home 104 medals, 46 of them gold medals, from the games in London. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Olympic gold medal runner Sanya Richards-Ross (L) takes a photograph of herself with U.S. President Barack Obama during an event with members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams at the White House September 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks as U.S. Olympic Flag Bearer Mariel Zagunis (L) looks on during a South Lawn event to welcome the 2012 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams September 14, 2012 at the White House in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Olympic swimming gold medalist Michael Phelps (C) attends a South Lawn event to welcome the 2012 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams September 14, 2012 at the White House in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
U.S. Olympic sprinter Manteo Mitchell (L) is appluaded by his teammates track and field gold medalists Dee Dee Trotter (R) and Sanya Richards-Ross, lower left, as President Barack Obama praised his ability to finish a race with a broken leg during a South Lawn event to welcome the 2012 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams September 14, 2012 at the White House in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
President Barack Obama (R) and first lady Michelle Obama arrive for an event with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams to the White House September 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. The U.S. team brought home 104 medals, 46 of them gold medals, from the games in London. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama gathered Team USA at the White House on Friday to hail the Olympians and Paralympians as conquering heroes.
“We could not be prouder of you. You gave us a summer that we will never forget,” he told more than 400 athletes crowding bleachers on the South Lawn.
Obama was joined by his wife Michelle, who was in London for the opening of the 2012 Summer Games and led the official U.S. delegation, and Vice President Joe Biden.
It was a banner year for U.S. athletes, who took home 104 medals — 46 of them gold — for their biggest haul at an Olympics not held in the United States. The Paralympics, which came immediately after, attracted 2.7 million spectators, a record.
Obama said he was jealous of his wife’s Olympic trip but did his best to keep up with the games by watching TV coverage.
“I’ve mastered the DVR so I was able to catch a little bit of everything,” Obama said, adding he often began his days in the White House exercise room “watching you guys do things that I did not think were humanly possible.”
“I was inspired to run a little bit faster watching (Olympic sprinter) Tyson Gay … (or) do a few more crunches after watching Michael Phelps and the other swimmers,” Obama said. He said he personally strained a lot harder — jogging on his treadmill.
Phelps, who became the Olympics’ most decorated athlete ever in London, grinned broadly, seated with the other athletes and wearing aviator glasses and team jacket.
The U.S. flag-bearers at the games — Olympic fencer Mariel Zagunis and Paralympic swimmer Brad Snyder, a Navy veteran — presented the Obamas with flags carried during the events’ opening ceremonies. Afterward, the president doffed his jacket to shake hands and pose for pictures as the Marine band played the Olympic fanfare.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
