Praising them for their determination, especially through the pandemic, President Joe Biden honored USA’s Olympians and Paralympians on Wednesday on the White House’s South Lawn.

Celebrating the achievements of athletes at the White House is a longstanding tradition, but this event was unique in that it included both summer and winter Olympians and Paralympians. That’s because COVID-19 delayed the 2020 summer games in Tokyo by a year, creating just a six-month break before the 2022 Winter Olympics opened in Beijing. The Paralympics follow each Olympics in the same host cities.

“I'm sorry you had to wait that year. … I mean, you've been through so damn — darn much,” Biden said, stopping himself when he sensed his language might have been too strong.

The athletes didn’t seem to mind. They responded to the moment with a laugh and then a loud applause.

The large group of world-class athletes stood around the stage wearing white jackets with USA logos. They presented Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff with Team USA gear — white shirts and black sneakers. They also posed for a group photo.

In their speeches, the first lady, who attended the Tokyo Olympics, and president made several mentions about the impact the pandemic had on the summer and winter games, which were played at near-empty venues. 

“I know that these games may not have been exactly as you once imagined, with stadiums packed with people and all of your loved ones screaming from the sidelines, but you are all champions just the same,” Jill Biden said. “Becoming an Olympian or a Paralympian is a rare accomplishment in a normal time, but you did it during a global pandemic. You are forever one of the most elite, most celebrated athletes in this world.”

The president added: “The pandemic made training and competing especially difficult and draining, but you did it. You all did it. We're in awe, not just of your incredible athleticism, but your endurance and your state of mind. But most of all, your character. You all have such incredible character.”

Bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, who won silver and bronze medals in Beijing, was the only athlete to speak at the event. She said: “We've been through a lot — a pandemic, a postponement, a war. But this team is resilient. We came together, and we persevered. And we hope we've made this country proud.”

The president quickly replied, “You did.”

Joe Biden said one of his and Jill’s favorite parts about the Olympics was watching live video feeds of the athletes’ families cheering them on from their hometowns. 

“Because we learned about how big and diverse, how great this nation is, just how diverse we are,” he said.

The president said the athletes inspire many people across the country and around the world.

“People you'll never meet witness how hard you compete and trained and pushed yourself, and you help them believe in themselves,” he said. “You've helped them believe that they can do things.”

"You inspire people around the world. You inspire them to pursue their hopes and their dreams," he said. "You've never given up. You just don't quit.”

Both Joe and Jill Biden said Team USA helps unite an otherwise divided country.

“We've been a very divided nation philosophically of late, but you brought us together,” the president said. “For no matter the divisions, when we see you compete, we feel a common pride in those three letters: U-S-A. I mean that. There's a common pride that crosses all political spectrums.”

"When we cheer you on, we are more than our cities or our states or our backgrounds," the first lady noted. "We are apart of something bigger than ourselves. You help us believe in the impossible and leave our differences behind."