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Coco Gauff has been chosen to carry the Team USA flag at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, becoming the first tennis player to receive the honor. She will share the distinction with basketball legend LeBron James.
At just 20 years old, Gauff, the world No. 2 and reigning U.S. Open champion, will become the youngest American flag bearer in Olympic history, surpassing Cindy Nelson, who held the role at the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Games.
Gauff expressed her gratitude on social media, saying, “I just want to thank my fellow Olympians/Team USA for voting and choosing me for this incredible honor of being the flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony ❤️. Thank you so much. I am incredibly honored. 🥹🇺🇸”
Competing in women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles, Gauff will be paired with world No. 6 Jessica Pegula in women’s doubles and world No. 11 Taylor Fritz in mixed doubles. She was originally scheduled to compete at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, but had to withdraw due to a COVID-19 diagnosis.
The favorite to win the singles title at the Paris Olympics is world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who dominated the French Open at Stade Roland Garros, the venue for Olympic tennis events. Swiatek holds an 11-1 record against Gauff, including a recent semifinal victory at this year’s French Open.
Gauff, who won the women’s doubles title at the same tournament with partner Katerina Siniakova, is aiming to triumph over Swiatek at the Olympics. Siniakova will compete alongside Wimbledon champion and 10-time Grand Slam doubles champion Barbora Krejcikova.
The draws for the tennis events are scheduled for Thursday at 11:00 a.m. in Paris (5:00 p.m. ET).
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