Michelle Obama to Lead U.S. Summer Olympic Delegation

First lady makes announcement with Olympic star-studded event

Adding to an already long list of “African American firsts,” Michelle Obama announced she will lead the presidential delegation to the opening ceremonies of this summer’s Olympic games in London.

On Tuesday, the First Lady made the announcement with the help of more than a dozen Olympic stars, including gymnast Dominique Dawes, women’s basketball icon Lisa Leslie, and tennis star Mal Washington.

Mrs. Obama and the athletes hosted DC-area school children for a mini Olympic competition at American University, as part of her Let’s Move! initiative.

“In the months ahead, I’ll be talking to Americans all across the country to encourage even more young people to tap into that Olympic spirit and turn their inspiration into action,” Mrs. Obama said.

Although White House officials said Mrs. Obama wouldn’t be the first presidential spouse to lead the delegation – First Lady Laura Bush led the Winter Olympics delegation in Torino, Italy, and then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton led the 1994 Winter Olympics delegation in Lillehammer, Norway – she will be the first African American First Lady to represent the country’s best athletes.

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