US athletes chant ‘Dr. Biden’ as first lady cheers swimmers

Athletes on the U.S. swimming team chanted first lady Jill Biden’s name as she sat in attendance for their competition at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday.

The first lady, who is leading the U.S. delegation to the Summer Games, was seated at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre to watch the session, waving at the team. 

As members of the team waited for the competition to start, they clapped and chanted “Dr. Biden, Dr. Biden” from the stands, The Associated Press reported.

The first lady shared video of the moment on her Twitter page.

Back at you @USASwimming!

U-S-Swimming  pic.twitter.com/sGn9NrkSWx

— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) July 24, 2021

USA Swimming also gave the first lady a shoutout on Twitter for attending the competition.

.@FLOTUS in the house! #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/RDjZH01Ksh

— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) July 24, 2021

Spectators have not been allowed into the 2020 Tokyo Games, with the AP noting that Saturday’s swim in the normally packed aquatic center was far calmer than usual for the Games.

Despite the lack of energy, U.S. athletes sought to cheer one another on, shouting one another’s names and waving Thunderstix and small American flags from the stands, the AP reported.

Earlier Saturday, Biden sat near French President Emmanuel Macron to watch a 3-on-3 game between the U.S. and French women’s basketball teams. She also attended the opening ceremony on Friday night as part of her first solo international trip as first lady.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Overseas fans and local residents have not been allowed into the games, as Tokyo has seen a rise in COVID-19 cases close to levels seen in January. The city entered its fourth state of emergency earlier this month.