Coco Gauff is excited to be sharing flag-bearing duties with LeBron James at the Olympics opening ceremony. She mentioned that she doesn’t want to bother him too much, but she plans to ask him for some commemorative pins from the 2024 Olympics as requested by her tennis teammates.
Despite her accomplishments, Gauff is star-struck by the athletes she has met at the village, including Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles. She expressed her excitement at being the youngest flag bearer for the US at the Summer Games and the first tennis player to receive this honor. Gauff admitted to feeling a bit like an impostor but is trying to enjoy the experience and be proud of herself.
Having missed the Tokyo Games due to testing positive for COVID-19, Gauff is ready to compete in three events at the Olympics: singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. She shared that she was emotional when she first learned about the flag-bearing opportunity and cried when telling her mom about it.
Chris Eubanks, a friend of Gauff’s, nominated her to carry the flag, highlighting her class and impact beyond tennis. Gauff did some research on flag-bearing but is mostly concerned about not dropping the flag and the weather during the ceremony.
As she prepares for this significant moment, Gauff is thrilled to be a part of the Olympics and make memories that will last a lifetime. She is grateful for the opportunity and is looking forward to representing her country alongside LeBron James.