And the Flag Bearer is...

It was announced this morning that the athlete carrying the flag and leading the U.S. team into the opening ceremony on Friday is...

Michael Phelps!

The 22-time Olympic medalist, of which 18 are gold, will be the U.S. flag bearer in his fifth and, likely, final Olympics.

He was in my list of people that I thought could be selected to carry the flag. I thought he'd be the one picked if he was able to attend the ceremony. Although, it's easy to say that now since it is him. There's no one else more impressive, athletically, that the athletes could have picked and this comes at exactly the right time for him. I think he's probably much more respected now than he actually was four years ago.

Phelps has gone through a lot and, by all accounts, changed a lot since we last saw him in London. He was often known as someone with such excessive talent that he had to be made to practice and train. He could go into a race unprepared and give less than 100 percent and still win. His coach, Bob Bowman, often got frustrated with him but knew not to give up on him. Bowman has filled that father-figure role for most of his life. You may or may not have noticed that it's always been his mom and sisters cheering in the stands at the Olympics. His dad has rarely been discussed.

Since London, Phelps has been arrested for a DUI, gone through rehab, gotten engaged, reconciled a bit with his father, become a father himself and has actually committed himself to training for this Olympics. He admits that he is now the happiest he's ever been, in the best shape of his life and more prepared than ever. Can you imagine? He won eight gold medals in a single Olympics without truly giving his best. That blows my mind.

Matt Lauer did a lengthy interview with him a few months back that goes through a lot of the last four years. It was prior to his son being born but it's obvious he's fully embraced that role.

For whatever reason, I can't get the video to embed. Click here to watch the Lauer interview with Phelps.

 Can't wait to see him in that flashy jacket carrying the U.S. flag in two days!