COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — President Barack Obama has congratulated the U.S. women’s soccer team for winning the Olympic gold medal.

Obama visited the U.S. Olympic Committee’s training center in Colorado Springs Thursday and singled out the women’s soccer team, which had just finished its gold-medal match. Obama offered a “special shout-out” to the women’s team, which avenged its loss to Japan in last year’s World Cup.

Obama also met with the captain of the men’s Paralympics swim team and with some junior wrestlers. He had to take his shoes off to walk on the wrestling mat and talk to the athletes.

He pointed out to reporters that he had “no holes in my socks” and that his late grandmother would be proud.

By Julie Pace, AP Writer (© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)