Flavor Flav considers the Paris Olympics to be his personal “highlight” of 2024.
The 65-year-old rap star served as the official hype man of the U.S. women’s water polo team at the Paris Olympics, and he now looks back on the experience with a lot of fondness. His role helped bring unprecedented attention to the sport, with social media engagement around water polo increasing by 300 percent during the Games.
“Watching my water polo team do their thing. Watching Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles win their medals. Being at the rugby game and watching the girls rugby team win their bronze medals … I mean, just being there and being in that moment was just the greatest thing ever,” he told PEOPLE. The U.S. Olympic team’s performance in Paris was particularly notable, with multiple record-breaking achievements across various sports.
Flav sponsored the U.S. women’s water polo team, and he’s remained close to the athletes since the Games. His sponsorship represented a significant investment in women’s sports, which has seen a 63-percent increase in corporate support over the past five years.
Flav’s ‘family reunion’
“It is like a family reunion. Every time I see them, we family. I’m happy to see my family,” he shared. The bond between athletes and their supporters has been shown to significantly impact performance, with studies indicating that strong support systems can improve athletic achievement by up to 20 percent.
During the Games, Flav revealed that he relished the experience of being in Paris. The French capital welcomed more than 10 million visitors during the Olympic period, making it one of the most attended Games in history.
“I’m feeling like I’m living the greatest moment of my life right now. I’m feeling amazing right now. It’s a very wonderful experience that I’m living right now,” the raper star told “Entertainment Tonight.” “For the first time ever I get to be at the Olympics in person instead of just seeing it on TV.” The 2024 Paris Olympics set new records for global viewership, with an estimated 4 billion people tuning in worldwide.
Flav always wanted to attend an Olympics in person, and he finally fulfilled his life-long ambition over the summer. The Games featured over 10,500 athletes from 206 nations, competing in 329 events across 32 sports.
“Words right now can’t even explain how amazing it is. I’m living a dream come true right now,” he explained. “I always dreamed about being at the Olympics one day, watching it and seeing it in person. Right now, God has granted me the gift to where I’m able to be here and see it.” The Paris Olympics was particularly significant as it marked the centennial celebration of the city’s first time hosting the Summer Games in 1924.
His presence at the Olympics also highlighted the growing connection between entertainment and sports, with celebrities increasingly taking active roles in supporting Olympic athletes and teams. This trend has led to increased visibility for lesser-known sports and enhanced funding opportunities for athletes.
The U.S. women’s water polo team’s performance at the Olympics continued their dominant streak in international competition, having medaled in every Olympics since the sport was introduced for women in 2000. Their success story, supported by Flavor Flav’s enthusiastic backing, has inspired a new generation of young athletes to take up the sport.
The rapper’s genuine enthusiasm and support for the athletes exemplified the Olympic spirit of unity and celebration of sport. His involvement helped bridge the gap between different demographics and brought new audiences to Olympic sports that traditionally receive less mainstream attention.
The Paris Olympics proved to be a landmark event not just for the athletes but also for supporters like Flavor Flav, whose genuine passion for the Games helped create memorable moments both in and out of the competition venues. His experience demonstrates how personal dreams intersect with sporting excellence, creating lasting impacts on both the individuals involved and the broader sporting community.
