Christian Tennis Star Carries Red, White and Blue for Team USA in Paris
By Movieguide® Contributor
Tennis champion and Christian Coco Gauff will wave the U.S. flag at the 2024 Paris Games.
“The 20-year-old tennis champion has been picked as the female flagbearer during the Parade of Nations at the opening ceremony of the Paris Games on July 26 — an honor that puts her in the history books as the first U.S. tennis player to be a flagbearer for Team USA,” PEOPLE reported July 24.
She’ll join NBA and Olympic medalist LeBron James, who is the first men’s basketball player to carry the flag at the ceremony.
“I was completely shocked,” the athlete said on the TODAY show. “I never would have crossed my mind. I have no words, honestly.”
“It made me cry,” she added. “I didn’t want to cry in front of my teammates…but when I called my mom, I started crying. I think it’s even more special — even now I get emotional thinking about it — that so many incredible people just think that I’m worthy of this. It means a lot, truly.”
The tennis star is eager to meet James, who she briefly spoke with on social media.
“He DM’ed me once on Instagram with words of encouragement and congratulations but I’ve never actually met him,” she said. “I’ve seen him in person at a bunch of Miami Heat games when I was a kid, and some recent games. But I’ve never actually met him. So this is a cool circumstance to be meeting him and I guess I’ll actually get to know him a little bit.”
Tennis champ Chris Eubanks nominated Gauff to be a flagbearer.
“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,” Eubanks said. “I don’t think there is anyone more deserving of this honor and I’m excited to see her carry the flag as she leads our U.S. delegation in the opening ceremony.”
Movieguide® reported on Gauff’s performance and faith last summer:
Nineteen-year-old American tennis pro Coco Gauff thanked God and her church after winning the Mubadala Citi DC Open women’s final less than a month after her first-round Wimbledon loss.
“First, I’d like to thank my Father, God for this,” Gauff said. “After losing in first-round Wimbledon, it was a tough situation. You know, a lot of prayer and a lot of support from my church family. So thank you to Him and those who support me.”
Gauff defeated world No. 9 Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-3 to take home the title. The Mubadala Citi DC Open marks Gauff’s fourth singles title and the first WTA-500 win of her career.
Gauff is the youngest qualifier in Wimbledon history. When she was 15, she beat renowned tennis star Venus Williams.
After she won that game, she “squatted down, put her head against the butt of her racket and cried as she said a prayer” and has been seen praying after many games since.
“I don’t pray for results. I just ask that I get the strength to give it my all. Whatever happens happens. I’m so blessed in this life,” said Gauff.
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