Coco Gauff will be the U.S. female flag bearer at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, making her the youngest American to ever hold this honor. At 20 years old, Gauff joins LeBron James, the male flag bearer, and becomes the first tennis player to carry the U.S. flag at an opening or closing ceremony.
Chosen by a vote from fellow U.S. Olympic team members, Gauff managed to contain her excitement and deep emotions, saying: “I’m not gonna cry. I’m OK.”
Gauff will surpass Cindy Nelson, an Alpine skier from the 1976 Winter Games, as the youngest U.S. flag bearer for an opening ceremony. Additionally, Gauff becomes the first Olympic rookie to carry the U.S. flag at an opening ceremony since runner Lopez Lomong in 2008.
@cocogauff still shocked 🤯 but incredibly honored 🇺🇸🥹 #olympics #teamusa #tennis ♬ original sound – Coco Gauff
Previously unable to compete in the Tokyo Olympics due to a positive COVID-19 test, Gauff is now ranked No. 2 in the world and leads the women’s singles event alongside world No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland. As Gauff is accompanied by fellow American Jessica Pegula in the Top 10, the United States is the only nation to have two Top 10 singles players on its women’s Olympic team.
United States Olympic Tennis Team
Women’s Singles: Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Danielle Collins, Emma Navarro
Women’s Doubles: Coco Gauff/Jessica Pegula, Danielle Collins/Desirae Krawczyk
Men’s Singles: Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Christopher Eubanks, Marcos Giron
Men’s Doubles: Taylor Fritz/Tommy Paul, Rajeev Ram/Austin Krajicek
The Paris 2024 Olympic Tennis Event will be held on outdoor clay at Roland Garros, where Gauff was the 2022 French Open singles runner-up to Iga Swiatek. 184 players from 40 nations will compete across five events: men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.
The opening ceremony will take place on Friday, July 26. It will feature a procession of boats carrying the athletes along the Seine River, passing by iconic Paris landmarks. (source: NBC Olympics, photo: Jimmie48)
