How ‘girl dad’ Flavor Flav became hype man for the US women’s water polo team

The Americans are reigning Olympic champions but still needed funds in the run-up to Paris. Then a hip-hop veteran came in to save the day

The United States women’s water polo team will launch their bid for an unprecedented fourth straight Olympic gold medal on Saturday with an unlikely benefactor in their corner. Flavor Flav, the 65-year-old founding member of Public Enemy, has stolen the show around town in his role as the team’s official hype man.

“This is quite an experience for me right now, you know, because the only time I’ve ever seen the Olympics was on TV,” said Flav, who spent Thursday hugging and high-fiving everyone in sight at the Team USA house in the historic Palais Brongniart. “You know what I’m saying? But I always wanted to see what it felt like being there.”