Editor’s note:FollowOlympics opening ceremony live updates.
The United States will take the international stage tonight, looking to keep their long-running dominance in the Olympics going. It all starts with the opening ceremony, and the question that everyone is asking is: "While those athletes represent the U.S., who will represent them?" This time around, LeBron James and Coco Gauff get that honor.
The honor of flagbearer has been bestowed on several lucky athletes over the years such as Simone Biles (closing ceremony flagbearer), Eddy Alvarez, and Michael Phelps. Each person selected to carry Old Glory is chosen because of not only their athletic prowess but because they exemplify American ideals. It's an honor like no other and it comes with massive expectations.
Here's who will carry the flag for the U.S. in 2024.
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Who are the U.S. flagbearers at the 2024 opening ceremony?
The United States will have two flagbearers – one male athlete, one female athlete.
The male flagbearer will be basketball legend LeBron James. James, 39, who will be participating in his fourth Olympic Games. James helped lead the U.S. basketball team to two gold medals (2008, 2012) and a bronze medal (2004) in his previous three Olympics. James did not participate in either Olympics in 2016 or 2021. The U.S. won gold both years.
The female flagbearer will be tennis star Coco Gauff. The world's No. 2-ranked tennis player was announced as the U.S.'s second flagbearer on Wednesday morning. Gauff will be participating in her first Olympics this year after a COVID diagnosis forced her to miss the entirety of the 2021 Olympics. Gauff will be participating in women's singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles for the United States in Paris.
How is the U.S. flagbearer chosen?
The U.S. flagbearer is selected by the Olympians themselves to represent their country at the Opening Ceremony. James' selection makes him just the third basketball player (and first male basketball player) in history to earn the honor – joining Dawn Staley, 2004, and Sue Bird, 2021. James is not the only NBA player with flagbearer honors at the 2024 Olympics though. Fellow NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will be Greece's flagbearer this year, and James' former teammate Dennis Schroder will be Germany's flagbearer.
When were the flagbearers announced?
Each flagbearer was announced at different times. LeBron James was the first to be revealed, with the announcement coming via NBC News' "TODAY" on Monday, July 22. Gauff was announced on the same show early Wednesday morning.
This will be just the second time in U.S. history that America will have two flagbearers (1956 – Warren B. Wofford and Norman Armitage).
Gauff was blown away by the honor. "It made me cry yesterday,” she said. “I didn’t want to cry in front of my teammates. I was holding it in, but when I called my mom, I started crying because I think it’s even more special that so many incredible people — even now I get emotional thinking about it — but so many incredible people just think that I am worthy of this. It means a lot, truly."
Gauff is the first tennis player to ever be named the American flagbearer.
Former U.S. Opening Ceremony flagbearers:
- 2024 – LeBron James, basketball & Coco Gauff, tennis
- 2020 – Sue Bird, basketball
- 2016 – Michael Phelps, swimming
- 2012 – Mariel Zagunis, fencing
- 2008 – Lopez Lomong, track and field
- 2004 – Dawn Staley, basketball
- 2000 – Cliff Meidl, canoe
- 1996 – Bruce Baumgartner, wrestling
- 1992 – Francie Larrieu Smith, track and field
- 1988 – Evelyn Ashford, track and field
- 1984 – Ed Burke, track and field
- 1976 – Gary Hall, swimming
- 1972 – Olga Fikotova Connolly, track and field
- 1968 – Janice Lee Romary, fencing
- 1964 – Parry O'Brien, track and field
- 1960 – Rafer Johnson, track and field
- 1956 – Warren B. Wofford, equestrian & Norman Armitage, fencing
- 1952 – Norman Armitage, fencing
- 1948 – Ralph Craig, track and field
- 1936 – Alfred Jochim, gymnastics
- 1932 – F. Morgan Taylor, track and field
- 1928 – L. Clarence "Bud" Houser, track and field
- 1924 – Pat McDonald, track and field
- 1920 – Pat McDonald, track and field
- 1912 –George Bonhag, track and field
- 1908 – Ralph Rose, track and field
How to watch 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony:
- Date:Friday, July 26
- Time:1:30 p.m. ET (live coverage); 7:30 p.m. ET (primetime replay)
- Location:The Seine, Paris, France
- Cable TV:NBC (Watch with a Fubo free trial)
- Streaming:Peaco*ck; NBCOlympics.com; NBC Olympics app
How to watch:Catch the opening ceremony and all of the Paris Olympics with a Peaco*ck subscription
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