Twenty-year-old tennis star Coco Gauff has been selected as the female flagbearer for Team USA ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on Friday, July 26.
The reigning US Open champion will join Los Angeles Lakers forward and basketball global star LeBron James as Team USA’s flagbearers in Friday night’s ceremony, which will be held on the River Seine, making it the first opening ceremony to be held outside the main stadium.
Gauff, who will become the youngest Team USA athlete to carry the flag, is set to become the first tennis player from the United States to do so.
“I was completely shocked,” Gauff said after the news broke that she had been selected. “It never would have crossed my mind. I have no words, honestly.”
“I never thought in a million years I would have the honour of carrying the American flag for Team USA in the opening ceremony.
“I could not be more proud to lead my team-mates with LeBron as we showcase our dedication and passion on the biggest stage there is,” she added.
Coco continues to make history. 🇺🇸
Grand Slam champion @CocoGauff will carry the flag for Team USA as our women’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony!#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/SoYJsUKUkn
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 24, 2024
Gauff, the current world No. 2, will be making her Olympics debut after she was forced to pull out of the Tokyo 2020 Games after she contracted COVID-19 days before the commencement of the event.
Along with Jessica Pegula, she will represent the U.S. when the women’s singles tournament at the Olympics commences on Saturday, July 27, with the draw set to take place a day before on Friday.
