US Olympic legend Michael Johnson was disappointed with Team USA’s selection of its flag bearers at the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Paris on Friday, saying other “traditional” athletes weren’t chosen.
Tennis phenom Coco Gauff carried the stars and stripes for the first time alongside basketball superstar LeBron James down the Seine River, battling rain and wind during the parade of athletes.
However, Johnson believed Team USA made a “popularity” pick and wished the committee had opted for seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles.
“I’m a little disappointed with USA team’s choice,” Johnson said during his appearance on BBC’s ceremony coverage, according to the Daily Mail.
“I was hoping for a Simone Biles or an Olympic athlete from a traditional Olympic sport. I think they went for popularity,” Johnson added. “Unless Simone said she didn’t want to. That’s a possibility.”
Biles, a flag bearer at the closing ceremony during the 2016 Rio Olympics, was noticeably absent from the boating festivities on Friday.
“The first competition is Sunday, which is women’s qualifier, and so … of course, she needs to rest up before that competition,” Biles’ mother Nellie told NBC News’ Hoda Kotb and Snoop Dogg.
Athletes who participated in the opening ceremony were anticipated to be on their feet for over nine hours on Friday, so gymnasts competing on Sunday were discouraged from attending the festivities.
Biles’ teammates Suni Lee, Hezly Rivera, Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey also skipped the ceremony.
Johnson, a four-time Olympic Gold medalist sprinter who held the Olympic and World record for the 400-meter race until 2016, has been a personality on the British news channel since 2001 and has been working the organization’s Olympics coverage since Athens 2004, according to the outlet.
The flag bearers were chosen through a vote of Team USA athletes across different sports, which was revealed last Tuesday as James and Gauff.
Traditional Olympic events consist of sports such as running, pentathlon, wrestling, and equestrian, according to the International Olympic Committee.
Tennis was played at the Olympics from 1896 to 1924 before it was withdrawn from the event. The sport returned to the Olympic Games in 1988.
Gauff, the reigning US Open champion, was informed of her selection from longtime friend Chris Eubanks.
“I was not expecting that,” an emotional Gauff said in a video posted by Team USA on X.
2024 PARIS OLYMPICS
- Today’s schedule, results, medal counts and more updates
- LeBron James majestically carries American flag at 2024 Olympics opening ceremony
- Serena Williams’ millionaire husband gets confused for ‘umbrella holder’ at Olympic opening ceremony
- Simone Biles fires back at critics saying she ‘choked’ during ‘twisties’ saga at Tokyo Olympics
She is the youngest to be a flagbearer in US Olympic history and the first tennis player to do so. It marked James’ first time carrying the American flag in his four Summer Games appearances.
“It means a lot to me to be hear and represent team USA and be with the G.O.A.T. here Mr. Lebron James,” Gauff told NBC. “I’m so excited and can’t wait to do well in the games.”
Gauff will be making her Olympics debut, three years after she had to drop out of the 2020 Tokyo Games because she tested positive for COVID-19.
The No.2-ranked player in the world is set to face Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia in the first round of the single’s tournament.
Gauff has three chances to become an Olympic gold medalist as she is also teaming up with her usual doubles partner Jessica Pegula and will be paired with Taylor Fritz in the mixed doubles draw.