Excerpt:
Fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first American to compete at the Olympics in a hijab, finished a close second to Michael Phelps in the U.S. flag-bearer vote.
Phelps was elected Wednesday by his teammates to carry the flag at the opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.
"I'm honored to be chosen, proud to represent the U.S., and humbled by the significance of carrying the flag and all it stands for," Phelps said.