Coco Gauff named U.S. female flag bearer for Paris Olympics

Reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff will lead the delegation of the nearly 600 Team USA athletes as the female flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony at the Paris Olympics, it was announced Wednesday.

Gauff was selected for the honor by a vote of her fellow U.S. athletes at the Games, as per a process led by the Team USA Athletes’ Commission, and will be joined at the front by basketball superstar LeBron James. She was put forth on the ballot by her fellow American, and fellow first-time Olympian, Christopher Eubanks, and is the youngest U.S. athlete to ever be selected for the position.

Gauff and James will hold the U.S. flag during Friday's traditional parade of nations, which this year will take place on boats as athletes and staff float down the Seine River and eventually march into the Jardins du Trocadéro.

She is the first U.S. tennis player to ever be given the honored ceremonial role, joining other players including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Caroline Wozniacki who have historically been the banner carriers for the countries in previous Olympic years.

Beginning at the Tokyo Games three years ago, each nation has had two flag bearers: one man and one woman.

"She was telling me they aren't going to have a tennis player," Eubanks said.

"When we got the email about nominating someone to be a flagbearer, I text her saying, 'I think I am going to nominate you.' She was like, 'There is no chance. They are not going to select a tennis player.' I was like. 'I don't think you realize like you're global.'