List of USA Olympic opening ceremony flag bearers over the last century ft. Michael Phelps, LeBron James

Modified Jul 23, 2024 20:24 GMT

Michael Phelps (L) and LeBron James (R). PHOTO: Both from Getty Images — Michael Phelps (L) and LeBron James (R). (Images: All via Getty)

A strong contingent of 592 athletes will represent the United States of America at the 2024 Paris Olympics, aiming to secure podium finishes for the nation. Out of these athletes, two will have the honor of carrying the USA’s flag during the opening ceremony in Paris.

NBA legend LeBron James has already been announced as one of the USA Olympic athletes who will serve as the flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, the female athlete who will carry the USA flag in the opening ceremony is yet to be announced.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, baseball infielder Eddy Alvarez and basketball player Sue Bird were named the male and female flag bearers for the delayed quadrennial Games. Meanwhile, the most decorated Olympian of all time Michael Phelps was chosen as the USA Olympic flag bearer during the Rio Olympics. It was also the last competitive tournament for the 23-time Olympic gold medalist.

Pat McDonald, a throwing events specialist, and Norman Armitage, a fencer, had the distinction of carrying the U.S. flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games twice in their respective careers. McDonald performed the duties in 1920 and 1924 while Armitage led the way in 1952 and 1956.

We will now look at the athletes who have had the honour of being USA Olympic flag bearers over the last century.

USA Olympic flag bearers during the opening ceremony over the last century

Flag bearers Sue Bird and Eddy Alvarez lead the USA out during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

1908 London Olympics: Ralph Rose (Athletics & tug of war)
1912 Stockholm Olympics: George Bonhag (Athletics)
1920 Antwerp Olympics: Pat McDonald (Athletics)
1924 Paris Olympics: Pat McDonald (Athletics)
1928 Amsterdam Olympics: Bud Houser (Athletics)
1932 Los Angeles Olympics: Morgan Taylor (Athletics)
1936 Berlin Olympics: Al Jochim (Gymnastics)
1948 London Olympics: Ralph Craig (Athletics)
1952 Helsinki Olympics: Norman Armitage (Fencing)
1956 Melbourne Olympics: Norman Armitage (Fencing)
1960 Rome Olympics: Rafer Johnson (Athletics)
1964 Tokyo Olympics: Parry O'Brien (Athletics)
1968 Mexico Olympics: Janice Romary (Fencing)
1972 Munich Olympics: Olga Fikotová (Athletics)
1976 Montreal Olympics: Gary Hall (Swimming)
1984 Los Angeles Olympics: Ed Burke (Athletics)
1988 Seoul Olympics: Evelyn Ashford (Athletics)
1992 Barcelona Olympics: Francie Larrieu Smith (Athletics)
1996 Atlanta Olympics: Bruce Baumgartner (Wrestling)
2000 Sydney Olympics: Rulon Gardner (Wrestling)
2004 Athens Olympics: Mia Hamm (Women's soccer)
2008 Beijing Olympics: Lopez Lomong (Athletics)
2012 London Olympics: Mariel Zagunis (Fencing)
2016 Rio Olympics: Michael Phelps (Swimming)
2020 Tokyo Olympics: Sue Bird (Basketball), Eddy Alvarez (Baseball)
2024 Paris Olympics: LeBron James (Basketball)

Edited by Pratham K Sharma