On Tuesday we found out that basketball star LeBron James of Akron, Ohio will be the American male flag bearer for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Then on Wednesday, it was reported by Wayne Sterling of CNN, that 20-year-old tennis phenom Coco Gauff of Atlanta, Georgia will be the female flag bearer for the United States on Friday.
Gauff is currently second in the world in the women’s tennis rankings. She is only behind Iga Swiatek of Poland. Gauff is also a grand slam tennis champion. She won the 2023 United States Open where she beat Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the final, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
This is the first time an American tennis player will be the flag bearer in the opening or closing ceremonies of an Olympic Games. The United States has a rich history when it comes to Olympic tennis. There have been 21 American Olympic gold medalists all-time in tennis. In fact, at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, the Americans won the gold medal in all five tennis events. Vincent Richards of Yonkers, New York won men’s singles, 19-time singles grand slam champion Helen Wills of Centerville, California won women’s singles, Francis Hunter of New York, New York and Richards won men’s doubles, Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman of Healdsburg, California and Wills won women’s doubles, and R. Norris Williams of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Wightman won mixed doubles.
Gauff is one of two tennis players who will carry their nation’s flag in the opening ceremonies. The other is Nicolas Jarry of Chile.
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