Michelle Obama, who clapped and roared and threw her arms in the air in the stands aft the US basketball team triumphed at the Olympics on Saturday, hugged Kobe Bryant as he left the court and even planted a kiss on his teammate LeBron James.
The basketball star had the First Lady all excited as rumours swirled the Olympic Village that he and Stephanie Rice are becoming more than just friends.
Bryant, who is nicknamed the Black Mamba for his deadly strike rate, had tongues wagging after he posted a message on his Facebook page praising Rice.
He took to his Facebook page after watching the Aussie swim team in training.
“I was lucky because of this AM Stephanie Rice, 3 time Gold Medal winner in Beijing and the best swimmer in the world, was training,” the Herald Sun quoted him as writing.
“I was lucky because of this AM Stephanie Rice, 3 time Gold Medal winner in Beijing and the best swimmer in the world, was training,” the Herald Sun quoted him as writing.
“I had the chance to see the best in the world prepare and she is FOCUSED,” he added.