Elina Svitolina confirmed as Ukraine's flag bearer: "Huge honor to represent my country"

Courageous Elina Svitolina has been symbolically flying the flag for Ukraine every time she steps onto the tennis court, bringing moments of happiness and inspiration for her countrymen amid adversity.

Now, that role will take on a whole new meaning after Svitolina confirmed her selection as Ukraine’s flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Read More: WATCH: Elina Svitolina delivers stirring remarks for Ukraine on court Wimbledon

“It is a huge honor to represent my country, to be among so many great Ukrainian athletes,” Svitolina told press ahead of the tournament. “It’s always been such a privilege to represent Ukraine.

“I just saw Roland Garros six weeks ago and it looks very different, but I’m happy that these Olympics are in Paris and it’s going to be another special one.”

Svitolina is the country’s second highest-ranked tennis player, and has been one of the leading Ukrainian voices on WTA Tour since the start of Russia’s military invasion on February 2022.

Through her eponymous foundation, Svitolina has worked to provide life-saving medical and humanitarian aid in partnership with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s United24 initiative. Since the end of last year, the Elina Svitolina Foundation has also taken over management of the Ukrainian team at the Billie Jean King Cup: Joined by fellow Olympians like Marta Kostyuk and Dayana Yastremska, Ukraine has reached the World Group Qualifiers stage for the last three years in a row.

Svitolina, who picked up a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games, will be competing in her third Olympic Games and will face Japan’s Uchijima Moyuka in the first round.

"I have the experience of playing in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020,” Svitolina told Ukrainian press in Paris. “I am very happy to be back on the court and have the opportunity to perform at the Games once again. When I first started working out after having my daughter, this was my number one task.

“The Games have always been a separate theme and a special motivation for me: Here I play for my country. This is so important to me, especially in such a difficult time.

“So we prepare and work. I hope that the Olympics will turn out well for me as Tokyo did.”

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

With the announcement, Svitolina became the fourth tennis player to receive the honor of leading their country at the Opening Ceremony of this year’s Olympic Games. On Wednesday, Coco Gauff became the first tennis player and the youngest athlete ever named as Team USA’s flag bearer, also joining Chile’s Nicolas Jarry and Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic.