Tennis star Coco Gauff and basketball superstar LeBron James served as flag bearers for the United States at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. They were both chosen by their teammates in the U.S. delegation, who sailed down the Seine River with the flag waving. Gauff became the youngest flag bearer in U.S. Olympic history.
Approximately 600 American athletes are participating in the Olympic Games. This is the second Olympics where the delegation is led by both a male and a female athlete carrying the flag, as was seen in Tokyo 2020. James and Gauff will not be the only ones carrying the U.S. flag during the 2024 Olympic Games; Team USA will also name a flag bearer for the Olympic Closing Ceremony.
The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games has featured flag bearers since the 1908 edition, when Ralph Rose, who won Olympic gold in shot put and also participated in the tug-of-war competition, was the first to carry the national symbol of the United States.
Taking advantage of the opening of the Olympic Games, we bring you a list of all the flag bearers for the United States in the history of the Summer Olympics.
Opening Ceremony: LeBron James (Basketball) and Coco Gauff (Tennis)
Opening Ceremony: Eddy Alvarez (Baseball) and Sue Bird (Basketball)
Closing Ceremony: Kara Winger (Track and Field)
Opening Ceremony: Michael Phelps (Swimming)
Closing Ceremony: Simone Biles (Gymnastics)
Opening Ceremony: Mariel Zagunis (Fencing)
Closing Ceremony: Bryshon Nellum (Track and Field)
Opening Ceremony: Lopez Lomong (Track and Field)
Closing Ceremony: Khatuna Lorig (Archery)
Opening Ceremony: Dawn Staley (Basketball)
Closing Ceremony: Mia Hamm (Soccer)
Opening Ceremony: Cliff Meidl (Canoeing)
Closing Ceremony: Rulon Gardner (Wrestling)
Opening Ceremony: Bruce Baumgartner (Wrestling)
Closing Ceremony: Michael Matz (Equestrian)
Opening Ceremony: Francie Larrieu Smith (Track and Field)
Closing Ceremony: Peter Westbrook (Fencing)
Opening Ceremony: Evelyn Ashford (Track and Field)
Opening Ceremony: Ed Burke (Track and Field)
Opening Ceremony: Gary Hall (Swimming)
Opening Ceremony: Olga Fikotova Connolly (Track and Field)
Janice Romary (Fencing)
Parry O'Brien (Track and Field)
Opening Ceremony: Rafer Johnson (Track and Field)
Opening Ceremony: Norman Armitage (Fencing)
Opening Ceremony: Norman Armitage (Fencing)
Opening Ceremony: Ralph Craig (Track and Field)
Opening Ceremony: Al Jochim (Gymnastics)
Opening Ceremony: Morgan Taylor (Track and field)
Opening Ceremony: Bud Houser (Track and Field)
Opening Ceremony: Pat McDonald (Track and Field)
Opening Ceremony: Pat McDonald (Track and Field)
Opening Ceremony: George Bonhag (Track and Field)
Opening Ceremony: Ralph Rose (Track and Field)
Out of the 47 individuals who have had the honor of carrying the United States flag during the opening ceremonies of the Summer or Winter Olympic Games, only 18 went on to win a medal in the same year they served as flag bearers.
Get to know more about the Olympic Games in The Highlights App’s Blog. And catch the best moments with our highlights app. Sign up for the waitlist to be the first to know when the app is available.
Be the first to find out about our upcoming launch.
