Michael Johnson is 'disappointed' with Team USA's flag bearers LeBron James and Coco Gauff's selection
PARIS, FRANCE: US Olympic legend Michael Johnson has slammed Team USA's pick LeBron James as Men's Flag Bearer.
On Friday, July 26, the Basketball legend led the US contingent at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but Johnson felt other ‘traditional’ athletes should have been chosen.
Michael Johnson believes Olympic committee should have opted for 'traditional' athletes
Michael Johnson was disappointed with Team USA’s selection of its flag bearers at the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Paris on Friday, saying other “traditional” athletes weren’t chosen.
“I’m a little disappointed with the USA team’s choice. I was hoping for a Simone Biles or an Olympic athlete from a traditional Olympic sport. I think they went for popularity,” the Olympic icon said during his appearance for BBC.
“Unless Simone said she didn’t want to. That’s a possibility,” added the athlete, per Daily Mail.
Tennis star Coco Gauff was the female sportsperson who carried the nation’s flag down the Seine River.
Interestingly, the gymnast who was a flag bearer at the closing ceremony during the 2016 Rio Olympics didn’t attend the opening ceremony on Friday.
“The first competition is Sunday, which is women’s qualifier, and so … of course, she needs to rest up before that competition,” Biles’ mother Nellie told NBC News.
The athletes participating in the opening ceremony were likely to be standing for long hours, and therefore many athletes who were to be participating on Sunday, July 28, chose to skip.
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Michael Johnson: An Olympic legend
Michael Johnson is a four-time Olympic Gold medalist sprinter who held the Olympic and World record for the 400-meter race until 2016.
The 56-year-old has been associated with the British news channel since 2001 and has been covering their Olympics events since Athens 2004, per the outlet.
The flag bearers were picked through a voting process of Team USA athletes across different sports and were announced on July 23.
Generally, traditional Olympic events include running, pentathlon, wrestling, and equestrian, per the International Olympic Committee.
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Coco Gauff didn't expect to be selected as Paris Olympics flagbearer at 20
Tennis was part of the prestigious sporting event from 1896 to 1924, and returned to the Olympic Games in 1988.
Gauff reacted to her selection in a video post by Team USA, “I was not expecting that.”
She created history by becoming the youngest flag bearer in US Olympic history and the first tennis player to earn the prestigious honor.
“It means a lot to me to be hear and represent Team USA and be with the G.O.A.T. here Mr. Lebron James. I’m so excited and can’t wait to do well in the games,” Gauff told NBC.
