{"id":595067,"date":"2024-08-08T04:44:36","date_gmt":"2024-08-08T11:44:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=595067"},"modified":"2024-08-08T05:32:19","modified_gmt":"2024-08-08T12:32:19","slug":"paris-olympics-katie-ledecky-and-nick-mead-chosen-as-usa-flag-bearers-for-closing-ceremony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/paris-olympics-katie-ledecky-and-nick-mead-chosen-as-usa-flag-bearers-for-closing-ceremony\/","title":{"rendered":"Paris Olympics: Katie Ledecky and Nick Mead Chosen as USA Flag Bearers for Closing Ceremony"},"content":{"rendered":"

Paris Olympics: Katie Ledecky and Nick Mead Chosen as USA Flag Bearers for Closing Ceremony<\/strong><\/p>\n

The United States has selected 14-time medalist Katie Ledecky<\/strong> and rowing gold medalist Nick Mead as its flag bearers for the Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Games in Paris. The announcement was made on Thursday and Ledecky took to social media to express her appreciation for the nod. Ledecky just completed her fourth Olympic Games, capturing four medals during action at La Defense Arena.<\/p>\n

Ledecky’s selection is not surprising, given her Olympic achievements through the years. As important, she has carried herself with grace and dignity while representing the United States at the Games of London, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Paris. At the 2024 Games, Ledecky was also selected as a swim captain by Team USA, an honor that indicates how much her teammates think of the 27-year-old.<\/p>\n

In Paris, Ledecky opened her meet with a bronze medal in the 400-meter freestyle. She followed by capturing a second consecutive gold medal in the 1500 freestyle and also helped the United States to the silver medal in the 800 freestyle relay. She capped her meet by winning a fourth straight gold in the 800 freestyle, an effort that enabled her to join Michael Phelps (200 individual medley; 2004-2016) as the only swimmers to win the same event at four consecutive Games.<\/p>\n

Ledecky is the most-decorated female swimmer in history with 14 medals, and shares that recognition with Australian Emma McKeon, who is retiring after the Paris Games.<\/p>\n

“I am incredibly honored to represent Team USA as a flag bearer as we close our time in Paris together,\u201d said Ledecky. \u201cI am so proud of this team\u2019s accomplishments in Paris and excited to celebrate with my teammates on Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mead was selected to carry the flag for the United States after earning a gold medal in the coxless four rowing competition.<\/p>\n