Tennis sensation Coco Gauff, the current U.S. Open singles champion, has been selected to carry the American flag for the U.S. Olympic team at the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony, making her the youngest flag bearer in U.S. Olympic history at 20 years old. Gauff, who earned this honor through a vote by fellow U.S. Olympians, will share the role with basketball star LeBron James in a unique ceremony featuring a boat parade down the Seine River.

Gauff, set to make her Olympic debut in Paris, expressed her pride in leading Team USA alongside James, stating, "I never thought in a million years I would have the honor of carrying the American flag for Team USA in the Opening Ceremony." Rising to a career-best No. 2 in the WTA singles rankings, Coco Gauff's journey to this moment has been marked by resilience and determination, having withdrawn from the Tokyo Olympics three years prior due to a positive COVID-19 test.

American tennis player Chris Eubanks, a close friend of Gauff, commended her selection, noting, "I'm incredibly proud of Coco. I know how great she is as a tennis player, but more importantly, how great she is as a person." The social media sphere reflected both support and speculation regarding the choice of flag bearers, with fans expressing differing opinions on notable athletes like Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles.

While some questioned the selection process and speculated on notable omissions, the majority recognized Gauff's achievements and her significance within the team, underscoring the positive impact she has made on her fellow athletes at such a young age. As the anticipation builds for the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, all eyes will be on Gauff and James as they lead Team USA in this historic celebration of sport and unity.