US swim star Katie Ledecky and rower Nick Mead have been selected as Team USA’s flag bearers for the closing ceremony, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced Thursday.
Ledecky, who won four medals in the Paris Olympics, became the most decorated US women’s Olympian of all time and fifth-most decorated Olympian in history with 14 medals. This was her fourth Olympics.
With her win in the 800-meter freestyle race in Paris, Ledecky became the seventh Olympian to win four consecutive gold medals in the same event and the second swimmer to do so after Michael Phelps. Her nine Olympic gold medals tie her for the most Olympic gold medals won by a woman from any nation.
“I am incredibly honored to represent Team USA as a flag bearer as we close our time in Paris together,” Ledecky said in the USOPC announcement. “I am so proud of this team’s accomplishments in Paris and excited to celebrate with my teammates on Sunday.”
Mead, a two-time Olympian, was part of the team of Justin Best, Michael Grady, and Liam Corrigan that won the gold medal in men’s four rowing at the Nautical Stadium flatwater course. The gold was the first for Team USA in the event since the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.
“It is an incredible honor to be selected as the flag bearer, and to represent the United States and the sport of rowing, which has never had an American flag bearer in the history of the Olympics,” Mead said in the USOPC release. “To share this privilege with Katie makes it all the more special. My experience at the Paris Games has been the dream of a lifetime and I’m filled with immense pride, gratitude, and joy.”
