Gauff is the first American tennis player, and also the youngest athlete, to be given the honor.
Coco Gauff’s long-awaiting Olympic debut is getting even better. On Wednesday, the 20-year-old was tabbed as Team USA’s female flag bearer for Friday’s Opening Ceremony in Paris, making her the first American tennis player, and also the youngest athlete, to be given the honor.
Gauff will lead the nearly 600 U.S. athletes, plus staff and other dignitaries, in the traditional parade of nations, which this year will be held on boats as athletes float down Paris’ Seine River before marching into the Jardins du Trocadéro. She will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with basketball great LeBron James, who was selected as the U.S. male flag bearer on Monday.
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Gauff and James were selected by two a vote led by the Team USA Athletes’ Commission, which serves “as the representative group and voice of Team USA athletes,” according to a press release. Gauff was nominated by her fellow first-time tennis Olympian, Chris Eubanks, who called her his “little sister” when the news was announced.