Brandi Chastain (Michael Caulfield/AP)
First lady Michelle Obama will lead the official American delegation to the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the White House announced on Friday. The group includes women's soccer Olympic great Brandi Chastain and basketball star Grant Hill, a member of the 1996 Olympics squad
"This summer I'll be cheering on Team U.S.A. at the Olympic Games in London with this distinguished group of champions who truly represent the best of our country," the first lady said in a statement released by the White House.
"Olympians and Paralympians are true American heroes and role models for all of us, especially our young people. And I know that this delegation will help inspire a generation of young people to get into the Olympic spirit by getting active and healthy so they can reach their fullest potential and reach their dreams."
The delegation also includes Gabriel Diaz de Leon, a Paralympic Games javelin gold medalist and discus silver medalist; Summer Sanders, who swam to gold, silver and bronze medals in the 1992 games; gymnastics gold medalist Dominique Dawes; and the American ambassador to the U.K., Louis Susman.
Correction, 3:40 p.m.: Thanks to an alert reader, this post has been corrected to reflect that Grant Hill played in 1996, not 1992.