Who should carry the U.S. flag at the Opening Ceremony?
One athlete will have the honor of carrying the U.S. flag at the 2016 Opening Ceremony. That man or woman will be chosen by their colleagues, but we have some thoughts on who would be good for the job. Check out our unofficial list of candidates.
Watch the Opening Ceremony on NBC on August 5 (7:30p ET/PT).
Kim Rhode, shooting: Rhode is the first U.S. Olympian to win five medals in five consecutive Olympics.
She’s been an Olympian since 1996.
Tony Azevedo, water polo: Azevedo was born in Rio and will be competing in his
fifth Olympics for the U.S., a water polo record. He won silver in 2008 but is aiming for gold in Rio.
Michael Phelps, swimming: Phelps has 22 Olympic medals, 18 of which are gold. He’s declared the Rio Olympics to be his last, and said
“it would be cool to carry the flag.”
Carmelo Anthony, basketball: Anthony could become the
most decorated U.S. men’s basketball player and set the record for most gold medals won in men’s Olympic hoops. He won gold in 2008 and 2012, plus owns a bronze from the 2004 Games.
Kristin Armstrong, cycling: Entering her fourth Olympics, Armstrong seeks to win a
third consecutive road race time trials gold medal.
Diana Taurasi, basketball: In Rio,
Taurasi could tie the all-time record for most gold medals won by a women’s basketball player. She previously won gold in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
David Boudia, diving: Boudia claimed 10m platform gold in London alongside a synchronized platform bronze, and
returns to back up both medals with more trips to the podium in Rio.
Kerri Walsh Jennings, beach volleyball: Walsh Jennings could win her fourth consecutive gold in Rio, though the previous three were won with a different partner. Rio is her fifth Olympics.
Serena Williams, tennis: Williams enters the Rio Olympics having been the World No. 1 for more than nonconsecutive 300 weeks.
She owns four Olympic golds, a feat equaled only by her sister, Venus.
Beezie Madden, equestrian: Madden owns two team show jumping gold medals, plus an individual bronze. Rio will be her fourth Olympic Games appearance.
Ibtihaj Muhammad, fencing: Muhammad is set to
make history as the first U.S. Olympian to compete in a hijab. She’ll make her Olympic debut in the individual sabre event. She will also compete in the team event alongside 2012 Opening Ceremony flag bearer Mariel Zagunis.
Carlin Isles, rugby 7s: Isles missed the 2012 Olympics as a sprinter on the track.
He makes his debut in Rio as the fastest man in rugby: a sport which hasn’t been in the Olympic program since 1924.
Carli Lloyd, soccer: Lloyd is the captain of the U.S. Women’s National Team and
scored the gold medal-winning goals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic finals.
Bernard Lagat, track and field: The oldest U.S. Olympic runner of all time, Lagat, 41, continues his Olympic career after earning two medals in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics for Kenya. As his age increased, so has his specialty:
He started off as a 1,500m runner but made the 2016 U.S. Olympic team in the 5,000m.
Logan Dooley, trampoline: After serving as a non-competing alternate on 2008 and 2012 Olympic trampoline teams,
Dooley will finally step into the Olympic spotlight as the U.S.’ sole male trampoline athlete in Rio. He’ll make his Olympic debut at the age of 28.
Steven Lopez, taekwondo: Lopez and his family are a fixture in taekwondo, and, at 37, this is likely his final Olympic Games. He’s collected three Olympic medals across appearances in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 and
would become taekwondo’s most decorated Olympian if he wins another one in Rio.
Jordan Burroughs, wrestling: The 2012 Olympic gold medalist recently has taken up a leadership role in the wrestling community, furthered by his involvement in the movement to keep wrestling in the Olympic program. It was nearly dropped after 2012.
