Carrying the Stars and Stripes for Team USA
(Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
Since the inaugural parade of nations back in 1908, a country's flag bearer has become one of the top honors for athletes competing in the Olympic Games. During that time, there have been 32 U.S. Olympians chosen to carry the national flag, with both men and women waiving the Red, White and Blue in the opening and closing ceremonies. (The closing ceremony duties are a newer trend, with the first distinction occurring in 1992.) Ahead of the 2024 Paris Games, let's take a look back at those who have had the privilege of being a flag bearer for Team USA...
1908 London Olympics
(Photo by Topical Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
While there is somewhat of a historical gray area—Matthew Halpin, a team manager, was selected to carry the flag during the 1906 International Games—Ralph Rose is the first official U.S. flag bearer. The track and field and tug of war—yep, tug of war!—athlete had the honor of carrying the American flag in London. (He's pictured at the 1908 Games during the shot put event.)
1912 Stockholm Olympics
(Photo by Getty Images)
Massachusetts native George Bonhag had the honor in 1912.
1920 Antwerp Olympics
(Photo by Getty Images)
The first foreign-born athlete to carry the American flag occurred at Antwerp Stadium in 1920, when Pat McDonald had the honor for the U.S. team.
1924 Paris Olympics
(Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
Pat McDonald would also be the first to serve as flag bearer multiple times during the Summer Olympics, this time waiving the American colors in Paris.
1928 Amsterdam Olympics
(Photo credit should read AFP/AFP via Getty Images)
Gold medalist Bud Hauser held the honor in 1928.
1932 Los Angeles Olympics
(Photo by FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images)
Morgan Taylor (pictured far right), the first athlete to win three medals in the 400-meter hurdles, carried the American flag at the '32 Games in Los Angeles.
1936 Berlin Olympics
(PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images)
A simple search for the "1936 Berlin Olympics" will quickly turn into a propaganda-heavy dose of Adolf Hitler's ideals and what he saw for "his" Germany during that period. So, understandably (sadly), it's difficult to find any photographs from the opening ceremony that don't have at least half the crowd "saluting" in the accustomed manner of that time... and we'll spare you the reminder. But let's not take away from Al Jochim, who was born in Berlin and had the honor of carrying the flag for Team USA.
1948 London Olympics
(AFP via Getty Images)
Michigan's own Ralph Craig—who won the double sprint in the 1912 Games—was named flag bearer for the '48 ceremonies in London.
1952 Helsinki Olympics
(AFP via Getty Images)
On guard! The U.S. flag bearer for the '52 Games was Olympic fencer Norman Armitage.
1956 Melbourne Olympics
(Photo by Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images).
Allez! Norman Armitage became the second U.S. Olympian to carry the flag multiple times when he was given the honor again for the '56 Games.
1960 Rome Olympics
(Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)
History was made during the 1960 Olympics when Rafer Johsnon became the first Black Olympic athlete to carry the flag for the U.S. team.
1964 Tokyo Olympics
(Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
While you might not remember Parry O'Brien, the Olympian who held the honor of flag bearer at the last Tokyo Olympics, you would recognize his groundbreaking move in shot put mechanics. With his back to the target area, he used a 180-degree spin to generate momentum and power as he released the shot put: this was a dramatic change from the traditional style of launching from a rock-back motion.
1968 Mexico City Olympics
(Photo by H. William Tetlow/Fox Photos/Getty Images)
Janice Romary took to the worldwide stage in 1968 as the first U.S. woman flag bearer at the Summer Olympics.
1972 Munich Olympics
(Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)
Olga Fikotová is an interesting story in Olympics history. She won gold while representing Czechoslovakia in the '56 Games—where she also met and fell in love with American Olympian Harold Connolly. Soon after, they were married and off to the United States. Fikotová tried to compete again for Czechoslovakia in 1960, but the country was not in agreement, going so far as to start a smear campaign against her. (Eventually, the lies were exposed in favor of Olga.) But, alas, she would compete (as Olga Connolly) in the Olympic Games as a U.S. representative, getting the honor to carry the American Flag at the Munich Games in '72.
1976 Montreal Olympics
(Tony Duffy /Allsport)
It was a proud day for the Indiana Hoosiers community back in 1976 as IU swimming standout Gary Hall carried the American flag for Team USA.
1980 Moscow Olympics
(Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The United States did not compete.
1984 Los Angeles Olympics
(AP Photo)
The Olympics were back in Los Angeles in 1984, with hammer thrower Ed Burke getting the nod as the U.S. flag bearer.
1988 Seoul Olympics
(Bob Deutsch-USA TODAY NETWORK)
Iconic track star Evelyn Ashford, who was the first to break the 11-second mark in the 100-meter dash at the Olympic Games, was the 1988 flag bearer.
1992 Barcelona Olympics
(MPS-USA TODAY Sports)
1992 marked the first year where two U.S. Olympic athletes would carry the American flag—one during the opening ceremony; one during the closing ceremony. Francie Larrieu Smith (pictured) had the honor for the opening festivities, while fencing great Peter Westbrook had the privilege for the closing ceremony.
1996 Atlanta Olympics
(Photo by: Al Bello/Getty Images)
U.S. wrestler Bruce Baumgartner held the honor during Atlanta's 1996 opening ceremony. Equestrian team member Michael Matz was the flag bearer for the closing ceremony.
2000 Sydney Olympics
(Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport)
Paddling into the new millennium, U.S. canoe competitor Cliff Meidl took the honor at the 2000 Sydney Games. Rulon Gardner, a 2000 gold medalist in wrestling, carried the American flag during the closing ceremony.
2004 Athens Olympics
(JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP via Getty Images)
WNBA basketball star Dawn Staley held the opening ceremony honor in 2004, while women's soccer legend Mia Hamm closed out the games for Team USA.
2008 Beijing Olympics
(Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Lopez Lomong survived the Second Sudanese Civil War and escaped to America, which alone is a spectacular story of triumph. But there was more to his tale: one year after he became a U.S. citizen, Lomong found himself not only competing in the Summer Olympics but also carrying the American flag during the opening ceremony. Georgian-born archer Khatuna Lorig had the honor for the closing ceremony.
2012 London Olympics
(MARK RALSTON/AFP/GettyImages)
Mariel Zagunis, the first American to win a gold medal in Olympic fencing, was the flag bearer for the opening ceremony in 2012. U.S. athletes chose Bryshon Nellum for the honor during the closing ceremony.
2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics
(FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Twenty-eight-time Olympic medal winner Michael Phelps received the honor of flag bearer during the opening ceremony at the 2016 Games. Star gymnast Simone Biles was voted to carry the flag during the closing ceremony.
2020 Tokyo Olympics
Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
For the first time, there were two Team USA flag bearers at the Summer Olympics opening ceremony—USA baseball infielder Eddy Alvarez (pictured holding the flag) and USA women's basketball star Sue Bird.
2024 Paris Olympics
(Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports)
NBA star LeBron James adds to his impressive resume of accolades this summer, with the Team USA baller being named one of two flag bearers for the 2024 Games. Rising tennis star Coco Gauff joins LeBron, also adding to her remarkable—and growing—resume.
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