PARIS — Tennis star Coco Gauff will join LeBron James as a flag bearer for the U.S. Olympic team at Friday’s opening ceremony.
Gauff, the reigning U.S. Open champion, is set to make her Olympic debut at the Paris Games and will be the first tennis athlete to carry the U.S. flag. She and James were chosen by Team USA athletes.
“I mean, for me, the Olympics is a top priority. I would say equal to the Grand Slams. I wouldn’t put it above or below, just because I’ve never played before. This is my first time,” Gauff said earlier this year. “Obviously, I always want to do well, try to get a medal.”
Gauff and James, the 39-year-old leading scorer in NBA history, both compete in sports that are outside the traditional Olympic world and get attention year-round, not just every four years.
The 20-year-old Gauff made the American team for the Tokyo Games three years ago as a teenager but had to sit out those Olympics because she tested positive for COVID-19 right before she was supposed to fly to Japan.
Now Gauff, who is based in Florida, is a Grand Slam title winner in singles and doubles. She won her first major championship in New York in September, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the singles final of the U.S. Open, then added her first Grand Slam doubles trophy at the French Open this June alongside Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic.
The same clay courts at Roland Garros used for the French Open will be where matches are going to be held for the Paris Olympics. The draw to set the brackets is Thursday, and play begins on Saturday.
Gauff is seeded No. 2 in singles, matching her current WTA ranking behind No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland, and will be among the medal favorites.
She and her usual doubles partner, Jessica Pegula, are seeded No. 1 in women’s doubles. It’s possible Gauff could also be entered in mixed doubles, but those pairings have not been announced yet.
“I’m not putting too much pressure on it, because I really want to fully indulge in the experience,” Gauff said about her Olympics debut. “Hopefully I can have the experience multiple times in my lifetime, (but) I’ll treat it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
At just 17 years old, tennis prodigy Coco Gauff has already made history as the youngest female flag bearer for the United States team at the Olympic opening ceremony. Gauff, who burst onto the scene in 2019 with a stunning run at Wimbledon, has quickly become one of the most promising young athletes in the world.
Gauff’s selection as the flag bearer is a testament to her incredible talent and dedication to her sport. Despite her young age, she has already achieved remarkable success on the tennis court, defeating some of the top players in the world and earning a reputation as a fierce competitor.
But Gauff’s impact goes beyond her success on the court. She has also been a vocal advocate for social justice and equality, using her platform to speak out against racial injustice and support the Black Lives Matter movement. Her commitment to making a difference both on and off the court has earned her admiration and respect from fans around the world.
As the flag bearer for the US team at the Olympic opening ceremony, Gauff will lead her fellow athletes into the stadium with pride and honor. It is a moment that she will surely cherish for the rest of her life, and one that will inspire young athletes everywhere to dream big and never give up on their goals.
In a statement following the announcement of her selection as flag bearer, Gauff expressed her gratitude and excitement for the opportunity. She thanked her coaches, teammates, and supporters for their unwavering belief in her abilities, and pledged to represent her country with pride and determination.
The Olympic Games are a celebration of athleticism, sportsmanship, and unity, and Coco Gauff embodies all of these qualities and more. As she takes on the role of flag bearer for the US team, she will undoubtedly inspire a new generation of athletes to reach for their dreams and never give up on their ambitions. We wish her the best of luck in Tokyo and look forward to seeing her shine on the world stage.
