Coco Gauff selected as female U.S. flag bearer for Opening Ceremony at Paris Olympics

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.

“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. “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.”

“I’m incredibly proud of Coco—I know how great she is as a tennis player, but more importantly, how great she is as a person,” Eubanks said.

“I don’t think there is anyone more deserving of this honor and I’m excited to see her carry the flag as she leads our U.S. delegation in the opening ceremony."

Read more: Coco Gauff pens letter to her younger self ahead of Olympic debut: 'You've already won'

Other notable tennis players to have been given the honor as flag bearer all-time included Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki.

In 2024, Chile's Nicolas Jarry was selected as the male flag bearer for his country, and on Wednesday it was announced that Danka Kovinic will carry the flag for Montenegro. Ranked outside the Top 600 but once as high as No. 46 in the world, Kovinic was awarded a "universality place" to represent the Balkan nation of just over 600,000 residents for her second Olympic Games, while world No. 24 Jarry is making his Olympic debut in Paris.