By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Wednesday, July 24, 2024
"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.
Photo credit: Getty for USOPC
Coco Gauff has proudly represented the United States as a Grand Slam singles and doubles champion.
Now, the reigning US Open champion will carry the flag at the Paris Olympics.
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The 20-year-old Gauff has been selected as female flag bearer for Team USA and will join male flag bearer four-time NBA champion LeBron James carrying the stars and stripes at the Opening Ceremony for the Paris Olympics.
It's a historic moment: Gauff is the first American tennis player to earn the honor of U.S. flag bearer for the Olympics.
The 20-year-old Delray Beach-born baseliner is the youngest flag bearer in Team USA Olympic history as well.
The Opening Ceremony will be staged alonge Paris' Seine River on Friday at 7:30 p.m. local time. The Opening Ceremony will be broadcast live starting at 1:30 p.m. EDT on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com and the NBC App.
"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 statement. "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."
Fellow American athletes voted for Gauff and James to represent the nation as flag bearers, the U.S. Olympic Committee said.
In an interview Wednesday morning with NBC's Today Show, Gauff said she was surprised by the honor. U.S. teammate and good friend Christopher Eubanks broke the news to Gauff at a photo session for the American tennis team.
"I was completely shocked, it never would have crossed my mind," Gauff told Today Show as Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz practiced on Roland Garros' red clay. "I have no words honestly.
"No, I've never met [LeBron]. He DM'd me once on Instagram with words of encouragement and congratulations. But I've never actually met him. I've seen him in person at a bunch of Miami Heat games when I was a kid and some recent games. But I've never actually met him, so this is a cool kind of circumstance to be meeting him and I guess I'll actually get to know him a little bit."
Ranked a career-high No. 2 in singles, Gauff is the reigning US Open champion and recently won her first Grand Slam doubles title at Roland Garros partnering Katerina Siniakova from Czechia.
Gauff has won seven career WTA singles and nine doubles titles (five with Jessica Pegula) and reached the world No.1 doubles ranking for the first time in the summer of 2022.
“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,” said Eubanks, teammate and friend who nominated Gauff. “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 U.S. delegation in the Opening Ceremony.”
Singles and doubles competition begins Friday, July 27 at Roland Garros. In doubles play, Gauff will pair up with teammate Pegula on the clay courts of Roland Garros.
Gauff was initially named to compete at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 but did not compete after testing positive for COVID-19.