Tennis star Coco Gauff will join LeBron James as a flag bearer for the U.S. team at Friday’s Opening Ceremonies of the Paris Olympics.
Making the 20-year-old the youngest American to carry the flag in U.S. Olympic history.
This will mark the first time a tennis player has held the flag for the ceremonies.
Coco Gauff and LeBron James will hoisted the flag to lead the nearly 600-strong American team into the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Gauff’s age will strike a contrast with James, and they will lead their U.S. teammates in a first-of-their-kind opening ceremony, parading in boats down Paris’s iconic Seine.
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In an interview with Vogue on Wednesday, Coco Gauff stated that “I still feel like this is all a dream.”
“There is no greater honor than being chosen by my fellow athletes to be this year’s flag bearer, especially alongside one of my idols, Lebron.”
Both athletes’ nominations as flag bearers were done by their fellow American Olympians.
However, this will be James’s fourth Olympics, while it’s going to be Gauff’s first.
Her teammate Chris Eubanks, another first-time Olympian, said in a statement that,
“I’m incredibly proud of Coco—I know how great she is as a tennis player, but more importantly, how great she is as a person.”
“I don’t think there is anyone more deserving of this honor, and I’m excited to see her carry the flag as she leads our US delegation in the opening ceremony.”
Coco Gauff said in an official statement that,
I never thought in a million years I would have the honor of carrying the American flag for Team USA in the opening ceremony.”
“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.”
In April 2024, Coco revealed in her Vogue cover story that she told writer Abby Aguirre that she has a new list of goals on her Notes app—a “vision thing,” as she called it.
“I would say the biggest things there are to win another Slam and a medal at the Olympics.”
