"He waited so long for the decision. He's very excited," said Patao's wife, Leslene. "I'm just relieved that he's going to compete."
The U.S. weightlifting team was originally given just three slots in the Olympics. That number increased to five, then eight within the last month when other countries failed to fill their quotas of athletes or had lifters disqualified due to drug infractions.
Patao is ranked seventh on the U.S. team and has been training at the Olympic Training Center the past six weeks. He arrived in Atlanta yesterday morning not knowing if he would be competing in his second Olympics.
Patao, who finished 10th in the 1992 Barcelona Games at 67.5 kilograms, will lift in the 64kg division. His competition takes place on Monday.
The Maui County firefighter will stay on the mainland through the end of the Olympics and travel with the U.S. team to the White House for a reception after the Games next month.
"He missed the closing ceremonies in Barcelona and doesn't want to miss these," said Leslene Patao.