The Paris Summer Olympics are already off to a much better start for Coco Gauff: On Wednesday, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) announced that the tennis star was chosen to be Team USA’s female flag bearer for the opening ceremony on July 26.
It’s quite the 180 for Gauff. In the days leading up to the last Games in Tokyo, Gauff’s Olympic dreams were dashed. The 17-year-old was preparing to fly out to Japan for her first-ever Games when she tested positive for COVID-19 and had to pull out.
“It has always been a dream of mine to represent the USA at the Olympics, and I hope there will be many more chances for me to make this come true in the future,” Gauff wrote on Twitter while sharing the news.
That chance came three years later when she made Team USA for Paris 2024—and grew into an even bigger opportunity than she ever could have imagined.
Gauff’s selection as flag bearer wasn’t just special because it marked a triumphant Olympics debut for her, but because of how it was chosen: Flag bearers are picked through a vote of their peers, so fellow Team USA athletes collectively backed Gauff as their representation.
“It made me cry yesterday,” Gauff said on the Today show. “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’m worthy of this, and it means a lot, truly.”
And having it come on the heels of her Tokyo disappointment did make it a little sweeter, too.
“I knew when I had that letdown, I was going to work and do whatever I could to be here in Paris,” she said. “And it’s crazy how some of the darkest moments in your life can prep you for the biggest one. Not only am I here playing my first Olympics, but I have the honor to be the flag bearer, which is something I never thought [would happen] in my lifetime.”
Gauff’s flag bearer selection will earn her a spot in the history books, too. According to the USOPC, Gauff is the first Team USA tennis player to be awarded the honor. And the Washington Post reports that at 20 years old, she’s the youngest American to serve as flag bearer ever, too.
On July 26, Gauff will join LeBron James (Team USA’s male flag bearer) during the opening ceremony of the Summer Games, a first-of-its-kind event that will be held not in a stadium, but on boats along the scenic Seine River. Following that, Gauff will get ready to bring home some hardware: She’s competing in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
“I’m feeling great,” Gauff said. “I’m excited to be back on clay.”
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