Who Is Coco Gauff? Meet the Tennis Sensation Selected as U.S. Olympic Flag Bearer

Tennis subordinate Coco Gauff was chosen arsenic nan female emblem bearer to correspond nan United States successful nan Olympic opening ceremony’s Parade of Nations. Since nan action was announced, group person been excited to study much astir nan athlete.

Who Is Olympian Coco Gauff?

Coco was calved successful Atlanta, Georgia, successful 2004, and was already connected a tennis tribunal by nan clip she was 6 years old. She and her family yet moved to Delray Beach, Florida, to springiness Coco much opportunities to prosecute a profession successful tennis.

Coco won her first master lucifer astatine nan property of 14 successful 2018 erstwhile she played astatine Osprey. Since then, she’s won 7 profession singles titles, including nan 2023 U.S. Open, and 9 profession doubles titles.

Coco Gauff was Forced to Withdraw From nan Tokyo Olympics successful 2021

The Georgia autochthonal was forced to retreat from nan 2020 Tokyo Olympics (which was held successful August 2021 owed to nan pandemic) conscionable days earlier she was group to time off for Japan aft she tested affirmative for COVID-19. However, she antecedently told reporters that she had large plans for nan 2024 Paris Olympics.

“One of nan goals I wrote down connected my imagination thing, imagination note, successful my phone, was to triumph a badge successful nan Olympics,” Coco said aft her triumph over Anna Karolína Schmiedlová astatine nan Australian Open successful January 2024, per nan Olympics charismatic website.

Coco continued, “Ideally, I would want to play each 3 [events astatine nan Paris Olympics]. We’ll person to spot wherever I autumn successful nan lineup ranking-wise and each of that. That decidedly is simply a priority. The Olympics person been a privilege successful some singles and doubles.”

Coco Gauff Will Share Flag Bearing Duties With LeBron James

The tennis pro opened up astir her guidance erstwhile she learned she received nan honor. In a video shared by Today connected July 24, 2024, viewers could spot Coco screen her rima successful daze erstwhile she was presented pinch nan charismatic Olympic overgarment that athletes deterioration during nan opening ceremonies.

“I was wholly shocked. It ne'er would person crossed my mind. I person nary words, honestly,” Coco said erstwhile she joined Today hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Craig Melvin via livestream from Paris. “It made maine cry. I didn’t want to outcry successful beforehand of my teammates, but erstwhile I called my mom, I started crying. I deliberation it’s moreover much typical — moreover now I get affectional reasoning astir it — that truthful galore unthinkable group conscionable deliberation that I’m worthy of this. It intends a lot, truly.”

Coco will beryllium joined by LeBron James during nan Parade of Nations, and she said she was excited to talk pinch nan NBA star.

“He DM’ed maine erstwhile connected Instagram pinch words of encouragement and congratulations but I’ve ne'er really met him,” Coco said. “I’ve seen him successful personification astatine a bunch of Miami Heat games erstwhile I was a kid, and immoderate caller games. But I’ve ne'er really met him. So this is simply a cool condition to beryllium gathering him and I conjecture I’ll really get to cognize him a small bit.”