"I got a picture with Katie Ledecky, I didn't ask Simone Biles for one" - Coco Gauff gushes over meeting 'coolest' athletes at Paris Olympics 2024

By Abhiruchi Rout

Modified Jul 26, 2024 14:57 GMT

American tennis sensation Coco Gauff recently shared her experience of meeting Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky at the Olympic Village during the 2024 Paris Olympics. All three athletes will be representing the USA at the quadrennial games, aiming to deliver a standout performance in Paris.

Gauff was recently picked as the USA female flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony. With this, she became the youngest USA athlete to become the flag bearer and the first tennis player to receive the honor. She will be carrying the USA flag with basketball legend LeBron James on July 26, Friday.

Ahead of competing at the Paris Olympics, Gauff spoke with Access Hollywood’s Scott Evans where she was questioned about if she was excited to meet any of the athletes at the Olympic Village. The 20-year-old responded to this, stating (2:44) onwards:

“Honestly, Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky were the coolest people I've met. I played cool though. I didn't do any fan-girling. I just got a picture with Katie. I didn't ask Simone for one because I didn't want to be that person. But Katie were in elevator. So, it was a lot of no one there. I didn't want people to bombard them.”

She also mentioned how great it was to see Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles and to be right next to them, adding:

“It means a lot and to be next to so many incredible athletes in the same Village basically is really exciting to see so many faces that you've seen in TV for years and the fact that we're all basically all Americans, we're all in the same team. I can say I'm on the same team as LeBron as Simone as Katie and all the cool athletes that are representing us these next two weeks or three weeks.”

When will Coco Gauff, Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky begin their Paris Olympics campaign?

Katie Ledecky at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Coco Gauff will be in action on July 27 in the women’s doubles teaming up with Jessica Pegula, where the top-seeded pair will play the first-round match against Australia’s Ellen Perez and Daria Saville.

Meanwhile, Katie Ledecky is set to compete in one of the most anticipated swimming events, the women’s 400m freestyle, on July 27. If she qualifies for the finals, she will likely face off against Ariarne Titmus and Summer McIntosh. On the other hand, the women’s gymnastics qualifications, in which Simone Biles will feature, will take place on July 28.