Swimmer Katie Ledecky and rower Nick Mead have been selected as Team USA’s flag bearers for the Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremony. The closing ceremony will take place on Aug. 11 after the final event of the Olympics, the women’s basketball gold medal game.
Ledecky has been named the female flag bearer after earning gold medals in the 800-meter freestyle and 1500-meter freestyle, as well as a silver 4×200-meter freestyle and a bronze in the 400-meter freestyle.
Competing in her fourth Olympic Games after making her Olympic debut in 2012 at the age of 15, Ledecky has won gold in the 800-meter freestyle in the last four Olympic Games. She now has a total of 14 Olympic medals, including nine gold medals, four silver medals, and one bronze medal.
Gold Medalist Katie Ledecky of Team United States poses on the podium during the Swimming medal ceremony after the Women’s 800m Freestyle Final on day eight of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La…
Gold Medalist Katie Ledecky of Team United States poses on the podium during the Swimming medal ceremony after the Women’s 800m Freestyle Final on day eight of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on August 03, 2024 in Nanterre, France.
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The 27-year-old is the most decorated U.S. female Olympian and the most decorated female swimmer of all time. Ledecky is now the fifth-most decorated Olympian of all time in any sport.
Ledecky found out the news through a phone call from Robert Finke that was posted by Team USA on X.
“I’m here at Open Water, and you’re making me cry,” Ledecky said in the video. “Thank you, Team USA,” Ledecky said in the video. “This is a huge honor. I can’t wait for closing ceremony. It’s been an honor representing our country here in Paris and I’m so proud to be part of this team.”
Mead also earned the honor after helping lead the American men’s four rowing team to their first gold medal in the event since the Rome 1960 Olympic Games. Mead helped Team USA take the gold alongside Liam Corrigan, Michael Grady, and Justin Best, as they narrowly edged New Zealand. Mead is a two-time Olympian after previously competing at the Tokyo Olympic Games and a first-time medalist at the Paris Olympic Games.
The 29-year-old will be the first rower to serve as the flag bearer for Team USA at an Olympic closing ceremony. “I got chills,” Mead said when he was told the news.
Nick Mead made history as a member of the first U.S. men’s four rowing team to win Olympic gold since 1960.
Now, he’ll make even more history as the first rower to lead Team USA as one of our flag bearers at the Closing Ceremony. 🇺🇸#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/4cBLXz4s6T
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 8, 2024
Mead and Ledecky will take over for basketball star LeBron James and tennis star Coco Gauff, who were Team USA’s flag bearers for the opening ceremony on July 26.
The closing ceremony will take place north of Paris at the Stade de France in a much more traditional ceremony than the opening ceremony which took place across the Seine River through the heart of Paris. The ceremony will begin at noon PT on Sunday.
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Publish date : 2024-08-08 11:27:00
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