Gold Medalists Hilary Knight and Evan Bates Will Serve as Team USA’s Flag Bearers at Closing Ceremony
A figure skater and a hockey player enter an Olympic bar. We’re joking. However, two such athletes will soon have the distinguished privilege of enjoying an Olympic closing ceremony honor. Gold medalists Hilary Knight and Evan Bates will serve as Team USA’s flag bearers at the Closing Ceremony. The Olympic closing ceremony will occur on Sunday in Verona, Italy.
Bates and Knight are perfect choices for this Olympic Games distinction. The two athletes have a combined 10 Olympic appearances between them. And both won gold at this year’s Milano-Cortina Winter Games.
Therefore, yes the legend herself Hilary Knight will be one of USA’s flag bearers in the Closing Ceremony for Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. A 5-time Olympian, she led USA hockey to gold in what she said are her last Games. Knight hit the winning shot that tied up the gold medal match leading to overtime; in which her team was then able to pull out the golden victory. Team USA’s storied women’s hockey captain, is not just a five-time medalist, but also the all time U.S. Olympic goals, points, and games played leader. Therefore, Hilary Knight ending her Olympics journey being selected to be one of the two U.S. flag bearers at the closing ceremonies is very deserved and fitting.
Furthermore, Knight will find herself in some great hockey company. And she will make a bit of history in the process. Hilary Knight joins Cammi Granato and Julie Chu as the third women’s ice hockey player to carry the flag for Team USA in the Opening or Closing Olympic Cermonies.
Hilary was shocked when she got the news regarding her closing ceremony selection on the Today Show. Knight processed the moment then said,
“I’m filled with so much joy to be able to lead out Team USA alongside Evan. It’s such an incredible honor, and I can’t wait. It’s a dream come true.”
Gold Medalists Hilary Knight and Evan Bates Will Serve as Team USA’s Flag Bearers at Closing Ceremony
Speaking of Evan… Figure skater Evan Bates shall be the other flag bearer. Bates won a gold medal in the figure skating team event and silver in ice dance alongside his wife and partner, Madison Chock. Bates is touched that his fellow athletes from Team USA voted him for the job.
Like Hilary, Evan is besides himself to be able to have a part in the closing ceremony. Bates says, “It’s so humbling — 232 U.S. athletes, everyone with their own story, and so many who are worthy of this honor, but it’s hard to describe what it feels like. And to walk out with Hilary, who we’ve done five Olympics together with, even shared a skate sharpener in Montreal together, so we’ve got some history, and now we’re going to be bonded forever.”
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