"I cried!!" - Chris Evert turns emotional over Coco Gauff making history by becoming Team USA flag-bearer at Paris Olympics 2024
Chris Evert had an emotional reaction to Coco Gauff being selected as the Team USA flag bearer for the Paris Olympics 2024. Gauff will create history as she will become the first tennis player and the youngest athlete to be the flag bearer for Team USA at the Olympic Games.
At 17, Gauff was part of Team USA's tennis contingent for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, she was left distraught after she had to withdraw from the event due to testing positive for COVID-19. Now, as a 20-year-old, Gauff is already creating history at her debut Olympic Games.
Team USA announced the news on July 24 with a heartwarming clip posted on social media. Gauff's close friend Christopher Eubanks heaped praise on the former in the presence of the USA's tennis team and caught her by surprise when he eventually made the big announcement.
"It's a pretty special moment. Your year last year was incredible. You captured the world by storm, your first Grand Slam. I think you kind of showcased to the world in the U.S. and abroad, how special of a person and tennis player you are," Eubanks said.
"And I think because you are so special, you have the honor of wearing this jacket during the opening ceremony and being the flag bearer with LeBron James," he added.
Gauff was shocked upon hearing the news. Her fellow teammates congratulated her as she tried on her special jacket. 18-time Grand Slam champion Evert turned emotional upon watching the heartwarming clip. She reposted the footage on her X (formerly Twitter) account and wrote:
"I cried!!! So exciting and deserving!"
Coco Gauff was in complete shock upon finding out she was the flag bearer for Team USA at Paris Olympics 2024
Coco Gauff had taken to her Instagram Story to react to the news about her creating history by becoming the first tennis player to be Team USA's flag bearer at the Olympics. She revealed it was her honor to represent her nation and be the flag bearer.
However, when she was initially informed about it, she was in complete shock
"I was completely shocked, like it never would have crossed my mind... I have no words, honestly," Coco Gauff said in an exclusive interview on NBC's "TODAY" show.
NBA star LeBron James will join the 20-year-old during the opening ceremony as the male flag bearer. Gauff revealed she is a fan of James and finally meeting him in such a situation 'is a cool circumstance'.