Coco Gauff, reigning US Open champion and world No. 2 tennis player, has been named Team USA’s female flag bearer for the Paris Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) announced Wednesday.
Gauff will join male flag bearer and three-time Olympian LeBron James at Friday’s event along the River Seine, marking the first time the ceremony will be held outside a stadium.
“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.
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“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.”
Gauff will make her Olympic debut in Paris, having missed the Tokyo 2020 Games due to a positive Covid-19 test, according to CNN.
At 20, she becomes the first U.S. tennis player to serve as a Team USA flag bearer.
Tennis competitions, both singles and doubles, start Saturday at Roland Garros. Gauff will team up with Jessica Pegula in the doubles event.
The Parade of Nations at the Paris Olympics will uniquely feature athletes numbering 10, 500 traveling by boat through the city’s center, rather than walking into a stadium. The ceremony starts at 1:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on NBC.
