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By Maren Angus-Coombs
Contributing Sports Writer
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The United States women's water polo team has brought their official hype-man with them for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
More news: Where to Find Every Team USA Athlete on Social Media
Public Enemy co-founder has emerged as a major booster for the squad which has won the last three gold medals at the Summer Olympics in 2012, 2016, and 2021.
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The surprising partnership came together after the rapper connected with U.S. captain Maggie Steffens on Instagram in May. He told reporters during a press conference Friday at the Main Olympic Press Center that he became fascinated by water polo after reading a news story about the need for financial backing for the women's squad.
"I said let me step in and see if I can help these girls out," he said, describing himself as a "sponsor" but declining to detail his level of financial support.
"Everybody likes to feel like they have their back covered. It makes them feel more powerful."
Steffens' post on social media paid tribute to her teammates and expressed her love for the sport but it also highlighted the constant financial struggle for most Olympic athletes. Flav's manager brought the post to his attention.
The interaction between Flav and Steffens turned into a unique sponsorship. He made an undisclosed financial contribution to the women's program as part of the five-year agreement and agreed to collaborate on social media to help bring attention to the small sport.
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Flav was in the stands cheering on the squad for their opening match against Greece on Saturday which they won 15-6. Flav, wearing a water polo jersey, water polo cap, and waterproof clock necklace, cheered for the women alongside First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.
"This is a great outfit. I could wear this the whole Olympics. I feel like an Olympian."
Flav has never played the sport before but has developed a connection with one of the players on a deeper level. Ashleigh Johnson, who is considered the best goaltender in the world, is the first Black woman to play water polo for the U.S. Olympic team.
Flav called Johnson a "major, major inspiration" to young Black people and said he hoped his own involvement could also help diversify the sport.
"I think by me jumping in the water with Ashleigh, it could probably enhance more Black people playing water polo. I know there's a lot of Black people who can play it."
The significance of that moment wasn't lost on Johnson.
"We saw the video come out (on social media). ... It was so cool to see it," Johnson said. "But I read through the comments and I see people asking questions about water polo and people of color wanting to start playing. And that's a different community than I've seen talk about our sport in the way they were talking about it than I have like this whole time I've been on this team."
When it comes to asking Flav about his hopes for the competition, he says it begins with a medal.
"These girls got three gold medals, I want to help them get a fourth."
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