Source: Joe Scarnici / Getty
With the 2024 Paris Olympic Games set to begin, the USA is bringing out its best as flag bearers.
The latest athlete to carry the honor is Coco Gauff, officially named Team USA’s female flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony. Gauff makes history as the first tennis player to get the rare opportunity.
The 2023 US Open winner said in a press release that she’s excited to get the chance to represent her country in a show of unity.
“I never thought in a million years I would have the honor of carrying the American flag for Team USA in the Opening Ceremony,’ Gauff said in a US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) press release. “I could not be more proud to lead my teammates with LeBron as we showcase our dedication and passion on the biggest stage there is – at a moment where we can bring athletes and fans together from around the world.”
Gauff’s being a flag bearer makes sense as she’s the number two tennis player in the world at just 20 years old. It’s also a momentous occasion for Gauff, as it’s her first Olympic appearance after she was forced to drop out of the 2020 Tokyo Games after contracting COVID-19.
The world-class athlete will also be joined by fellow Team USA member LeBron James. James released a statement when the news dropped a few days ago, harkening back to his days as a kid from Ohio and the ability of sports to bring top-notch athletes together.
He’s the first-ever men’s basketball player to carry the flag, behind Dawn Staley in 2004 and Sue Bird in 2021.
“It’s an incredible honor to represent the United States on this global stage, especially in a moment that can bring the whole world together,” James said. “For a kid from Akron, this responsibility means everything to not only myself, but to my family, all the kids in my hometown, my teammates, fellow Olympians and so many people across the country with big aspirations. Sports has the power to bring us all together, and I’m proud to be a part of this important moment.”
Both tennis and basketball kick off at the Paris games on July 27.
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