With Erin Jackson and Frank Del Duca set to carry the United States flag at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Olympics, we go through every U.S. athlete in history to be bestowed the honor.
The “Parade of Nations” is a longstanding tradition of the opening and closing ceremony at the Olympics in which every participating nation walks into the stadium, country by country, led by a flag bearer.
Since 2020, the International Olympic Committee has given nations the option to have one male and one female flag bearer.
With Jackson and Del Duca set to lead the way for Team USA in Milan, let’s run through every American athlete to have done so in the history of the games.
Read all you need to know about the Olympics Opening Ceremony on site.
List of United States flag bearers at the Olympics
Year | Season | Flag bearer(s) |
2026 | Winter | Erin Jackson, Frank Del Duca (opening) |
2024 | Summer | LeBron James, Coco Gauff (opening) |
2022 | Winter | Brittany Bowe, John Shuster (opening); Elana Meyers (closing) |
2020 | Summer | Eddy Alvarez, Sue Bird (opening); Kara Winger (closing) |
2018 | Winter | Erin Hamlin (opening); Jessie Diggins (closing) |
2016 | Summer | Michael Phelps (opening); Simone Biles (closing) |
2014 | Winter | Todd Lodwick (opening); Julie Chu (closing) |
2012 | Summer | Mariel Zagunis (opening); Bryshon Nellum (closing) |
2010 | Winter | Mark Grimmette (opening); Bill Demong (closing) |
2008 | Summer | Lopez Lomong (opening); Khatuna Lorig (closing) |
2006 | Winter | Chris Witty (opening); Joey Cheek (closing) |
2004 | Summer | Dawn Staley (opening); Mia Hamm (closing) |
2002 | Winter | Amy Peterson (opening); Brian Shimer (closing) |
2000 | Summer | Cliff Meidl (opening); Rulon Gardner (closing) |
1998 | Winter | Eric Flaim (opening); Cammi Granato (closing) |
1996 | Summer | Bruce Baumgartner (opening); Michael Matz (closing) |
1994 | Winter | Cammy Myler (opening); Dan Jansen (closing) |
1992 | Summer | Francue Larrieu Smith (opening); Peter Westbrook (closing) |
1992 | Winter | Bill Koch (opening) |
1988 | Summer | Evelyn Ashford (opening) |
1988 | Winter | Lyle Nelson (opening) |
1984 | Summer | Ed Burke (opening) |
1984 | Winter | Frank Masley (opening) |
1980 | Winter | Scott Hamilton (opening) |
1976 | Summer | Gary Hall (opening) |
1976 | Winter | Cindy Nelson (opening) |
1972 | Summer | Olga Fikotova (opening) |
1972 | Winter | Dianne Holum (opening) |
1968 | Summer | Janice Romary (opening) |
1968 | Winter | Terry McDermott (opening) |
1964 | Summer | Parry O'Brien (opening) |
1964 | Winter | Bill Disney (opening) |
1960 | Summer | Rafer Johnson (opening) |
1960 | Winter | Don McDermott (opening) |
1956 | Summer | Norman Armitage (opening) |
1956 | Winter | James Bickford (opening) |
1952 | Summer | Norman Armitage (opening) |
1952 | Winter | James Bickford (opening) |
1948 | Summer | Ralph Craig (opening) |
1948 | Winter | Jack Heaton (opening) |
1936 | Summer | Al Jochim (opening) |
1936 | Winter | Rolf Monsen (opening) |
1932 | Summer | Morgan Taylor (opening) |
1932 | Winter | Billy Fiske (opening) |
1928 | Summer | Bud Houser (opening) |
1928 | Winter | Godfrey Dewey (opening) |
1924 | Summer | Pat McDonald (opening) |
1924 | Winter | Taffy Abel (opening) |
1920 | Summer | Pat McDonald (opening) |
1912 | Winter | Goerge Bonhag (opening) |
1908 | Summer | Ralph Rose (opening) |
1906 | Summer | Matthew Halpin (opening) |
