PARIS, France — Flavor Flav stopped for hugs, handshakes and high-fives as he made his way around the Team USA House at the Paris Games on Thursday. “This is quite an experience for me right now, you know, because the only time I've ever seen the Olympics was on TV,” Flav said.
He never stopped smiling.
“You know what I’m saying? But I always wanted to see what it felt like being there. So now I got the opportunity to be here. It's the best."
Flav, a founding member of the hip-hop group Public Enemy, is in Paris as part of his duties as the official hype man for USA Water Polo — a partnership that came together after he connected with U.S. captain Maggie Steffens on Instagram in May.
The 65-year-old Flav is embracing his new responsibilities with, well, his usual brand of seemingly boundless enthusiasm.
The road to Flav's Olympic debut began when Steffens posted on Instagram about her experiences with the U.S. women's program, which has won an unprecedented three straight gold medals going into Paris.
While paying tribute to her teammates and expressing her love for her gruelling sport, Steffens also highlighted the constant financial struggle for most Olympic athletes.
Flav’s manager brought the issue to his attention, and he promised his assistance in a comment on Steffens' post.
That exchange turned into a unique sponsorship deal between Flav— whose legal name is William Jonathan Drayton Jr. — and USA Water Polo.
Flav made an undisclosed financial contribution to the women's program as part of the five-year agreement, and he also agreed to collaborate on social media to help bring attention to the small sport.
He is planning to attend the Olympic openers for the U.S. women and men. The women face Greece on Saturday, and the men play Italy on Sunday.
Flav, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Public Enemy in 2013, prepped for his Paris experience by attending two women's games, even joining the TV broadcast. He also jumped into the pool with the women's team.