Coco
Gauff's parents knew she would be the flag bearer at the
Olympic Games even
before the 2023 US Open champion herself. The American No. 1 was informed two
days ago that she would represent her country at the opening ceremony of Paris
2024 alongside basketball player LeBron James.
The
20-year-old player recently revealed during a press conference that her
parents, Candi and Corey, knew she would be the flag bearer even before she
did: "They knew the news before me, which, I thought I was gonna surprise
them on the phone, and [my mom] was like, 'Yeah, I already knew,'" Gauff
said.
Gauff's emotional
reaction to being named flag bearer
The world
No. 2 will seek a medal for the USA at Stade
Roland Garros, where she has
already played a final back in 2022, though she finished as runner-up after
losing to Iga Swiatek, who will be the main favorite in the female draw.
Nonetheless, Gauff will have the support of her parents in Paris, who traveled
to accompany their 20-year-old daughter: “I'm glad that they'll be able to come
and be here. I know they're excited."
Although
Gauff received the news that she would be the flag bearer on July 24, the
United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee informed her family beforehand,
as they needed their names for security purposes before July 23. The presence
of Gauff's parents in Paris was a surprise planned in the last few days: “I was
very emotional when I was talking to my mom about it,” Gauff said.
“I wanted
to cry when I found out, but my whole team was there, so I went in the corner
and did it. I truly am shocked, and I don't take it for granted, and I am going
to try and take it all in, and I know this will be a memory I will remember for
the rest of my life,” she added.
![Coco Gauff at Roland Garros.](https://r.testifier.nl/Acbs8526SDKI/resizing_type:fit/watermark:Picture%3A%20Proshots/width:1280/plain/https://s3-newsifier.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/tennisuptodate.com/images/2023-06/copyright-proshots-21185690-647a158aacf82.jpg@webp)
Coco Gauff at Roland Garros.
“I have no
idea what we’re supposed to do,” she said with a laugh at the press conference.
“The only thing I know is the jacket and I only know that because they showed
it to me. I have no clue. I wish I knew!... But I’m sure they’re going to set
me up tomorrow at least, and I’m excited to be on the Seine.”
Gauff also
mentioned that she is 'a little concerned' about the height difference between
her (5’9’’/1.77 m) and LeBron James (6’9’’/2.06 m). Additionally, Gauff
commented that she is not sure what she has to do as a flag bearer: "Is my
arm going to be up here while he's holding it? I don't know. I thought it was
two separate flags when I was looking at a picture. They hold it together, so I
don't really know," Gauff added.