Flavor Flav Will Sponsor U.S. Women's Olympic Water Polo Team

The United States will send the women's water polo team to defend its gold medal at the Paris Olympics. And it's all thanks to Flavor Flav. Not only will the clock-wearing rapper sponsor the team, he's also serving as its official hype man.

You're probably wondering, How in the world did that happen? We were, too.

It all started with a May 4 Instagram post by Team USA captain Maggie Steffens saying the team needed financial help. She explained that while USA Water Polo and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee help to fund the team and its travels, they also need additional support from donors.

"Many of my teammates aren’t just badass champions, but also teachers, business owners, coaches, physicians assistants, and more," Steffens wrote. "Some may not know this, but most Olympians need a 2nd (or 3rd) job to support chasing the dream (myself included!) and most teams rely on sponsors for travel, accommodations, nutritional support, rent/lodging, and simply affording to live in this day and age."

Say no more, Maggie. After seeing the post, Flav stepped in to bankroll the trip. But he's not just providing financial backing — he also plans to be the loudest fan.

"When I come out and I watch this water polo team ... 'USA! USA!' Yo, I'm going to be the biggest hype man that they ever had in their life," he told the AP on Friday. 

"I'm going to be bigger than any cheerleader that they had in their life. I'm going to cheer this team on, and I'm going to cheer this team into winning a gold medal."

Maggie Steffens is the captain of the women's water polo team and was a member of the 2012, 2016 and 2020 gold medal-winning squads.

(Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports)

And winning is something they do a lot. The U.S. Women's National Water Polo Team has brought home the gold medal at the last three Summer Olympic games and the last four World Cups.

Flavor Flav Is Pumped To Support Team USA

Steffens said she was shocked when Flav commented on her post with an offer to sponsor the whole team.

"Is this real, this reality?" Steffens told PEOPLE. "Water polo is my whole world. It's a family sport. It's not just my passion. It's not just a hobby. It is my life and it's been my life and it's been a gift for me.

"But to us, to have a Hall of Famer and somebody like him notice us and be willing to share our story, and to empower our journey, was pretty spectacular."

As a father of four girls, the 65-year-old rapper said he jumped at the chance to support female athletes.

"There's a lot of women, I'm saying that all they want is just a chance," he said. "And all they want to do is feel like they got a chance. So I just wanted to help out, and help give women that chance that they are looking for."

Flavor Flav is bankrolling the U.S. Women's Water Polo Team.

(Junfu Han / USA TODAY)

And it'll be a cool experience for him, too.

"Yo, check this out," he said. "By me sponsoring this water polo team, this is going to help me pull something off of my bucket list. You know what? I always wanted to one day go to the Olympic Games and see it and see it live with my eyes, not just on TV. You know what I'm saying?

"This is going to give me a chance now to come to the Olympic Games so I could see it live. Oh my god, I'm coming to the Games!"

The Games begin on July 26 in Paris.

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