IN PHOTOS: 3x champ Dawn Staley arrives in Paris for 2024 Summer Olympics with First Lady Jill Biden
Dawn Staley, a former US Olympian, flew to Paris for the Summer Olympics alongside First Lady Jill Biden. Staley accompanied Biden as a member of the Presidential delegation for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games on Friday.
The South Carolina head coach shared several images of her first day in the French capital. This includes those of several badges and VIP seals she received as a member of the Presidential panel.
"Day 1 was truly an amazing experience. Candy? Coins? Seals? PJ? Anyone? Only it is PRESIDENTIAL for me," Staley captioned the post.
One of the photos showed Staley waving her hand upon her arrival at the Paris airport. The post also included pictures of President Joe Biden-signed candy boxes and two custom coins celebrating the Presidential delegation.
Joining Staley, the delegation also has US Senator Chris Coons, Senator Alex Padilla and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games representative Casey Wasserman and three-time Olympics figure skater Brian Boitano is also with them.
The Olympic stage is not a new experience for Dawn Staley, who represented the United States at the Summer Games both as a player and as a coach.
She even created history by becoming the first basketball player to carry the US national flag during the 2004 Athens Olympics opening ceremony.
Staley won gold medals playing for the USA women's basketball team in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics. She later coached the team to a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Dawn Staley responds to criticism over Olympics participation costs
The Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley defended herself against criticism made by some social media users over the cost of her visit on Friday.
"well enjoy Dawn, the US taxpayers are paying for it. Yep, those who are struggling to put food on the table," an X user commented on Staley's post.
Staley responded by explaining how much it means for her to represent the United States at the Olympics.
"Uuuuhhh my taxes have paid for this one! And please don’t try to make anyone feel bad…we are representing the red, white and blue with great pride and with the utmost patriotism."
In addition to her Olympic medals, the former WNBA star also led Team USA to gold at the 1998 and 2002 FIBA Women's World Championships as a player. She won the 2018 FIBA Women's World Cup as a coach.