Team USA has made its picks for flag bearers at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, and it's a pair of athletes with serious credentials and powerful stories.
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Speedskating star Erin Jackson and bobsledder Frank Del Duca will lead the United States into the opening ceremony Friday night.
Jackson made history in 2022 as the first Black woman to win individual gold at the Winter Games. She's back in Milan to chase more hardware in the 500m and 1,000m. Her reaction to the honor? Pure class.
"This reflects far more than one individual," Jackson said. "It represents my family, my teammates, my hometown, and everyone across the country who believes in the power of sport."
Del Duca, a U.S. Army sergeant and Olympic bobsledder, was just as moved.
"It means a lot. It really does," he said. "The fact that it's in Italy just makes it even more special. My grandparents always rooted for both Italy and the U.S. This one's for them."
Del Duca's been grinding, as he finished 13th in both bobsled events at the last Games but cracked the top five in two- and four-man at last year's world championships.
Now, he and Jackson will carry the stars and stripes in front of the world.
Team USA's got over 200 athletes headed into Milan-Cortina. These two will lead them out front, one with gold already in her pocket, and one chasing his shot.
