Tennis star Coco Gauff on Thursday said the Olympics were an opportunity for Americans to “come together” during a turbulent presidential race back home, as she prepares to carry the US flag at the opening ceremony in Paris.

Tennis star Coco Gauff on Thursday said the Olympics were an opportunity for Americans to “come together” during a turbulent presidential race back home, as she prepares to carry the US flag at the opening ceremony in Paris.

Kamala Harris is poised to battle Donald Trump, who survived an assassination attempt earlier this month, for the presidency in November after incumbent Joe Biden dropped out of the campaign. With increasing division in US politics, Gauff believes the Olympics could help people put the “political turmoil” to the back of their minds.

At least this year, there’s obviously been a lot of political turmoil on both sides,” she told reporters after being named as flagbearer for Friday’s ceremony along the river Seine.

“So I think for me, when I get this opportunity, I think of it as something completely separate… I think sport just brings joy. For Americans specifically, there’s no team in a way where it’s like NFL where somebody wins and somebody loses… All Americans are cheering for Team USA. I think this is a good opportunity for our country to come together and stand behind something.”

Gauff has made a habit of speaking out on social and political issues in the United States but accepts that the American Olympic team brings together athletes with a wide range of views.

“Among the athletes, we all come from different backgrounds. We all have different walks of life. We believe different things. But we’re all proud to be here, being an Olympian representing the USA,” she added.

‘In shock’

Gauff will become the first tennis player in history to carry the US flag at an Olympic opening ceremony —something even her idols, Serena and Venus Williams, were never chosen to do. The 20-year-old, who won her maiden Grand Slam title at last year’s US Open, was selected for the role by her USA teammates and was visibly emotional after hearing the news.

“I truly am in shock and I don’t take it for granted and I’m going to try and take it all in,” said Gauff. “I know this will be a memory I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Flagbearing is one of those things that I just never thought would happen. Even though tennis is an Olympic sport, it’s not maybe the most popular sport in the Olympics, so I didn’t even think that was a possibility.”

Gauff will share the flagbearing duties with NBA superstar LeBron James, who towers almost a foot taller than her. “I am a little bit concerned about the height difference. I thought it was two flags but I saw pictures (of previous Olympics) and they’re holding it together.”

Carrying the flag with the double Olympic champion has helped Gauff fuel her pin collection frenzy. Pin-trading is a favourite hobby of many Olympians, in which athletes trade country-specific or sport-specific pins in an effort to collect from and connect with as many teams as possible. Gauff told Olympics.com that she really wants to swap pins with LeBron James, but has been too scared to ask.

“My team is really nagging me about getting pins from him, so I will try and ask him,” Gauff said. “I need six. But I don’t know. I’m kind of scared.”

Gauff, the world number two, will face Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in the first round of the singles event at Roland Garros. She will be competing for three medals on her Olympic debut after missing out on the Tokyo Games three years ago following a positive Covid test.

“It was very disappointing, I felt very sad,” Gauff said. “It was obviously out of my hands… Obviously, I wanted to compete in Tokyo but it makes this opportunity in this moment a lot sweeter.”

Gauff and Jessica Pegula are the top seeds in the women’s doubles competition. In mixed doubles, Gauff is playing with Taylor Fritz and the pair are seeded third. “I knew, to be an Olympian, it was a no-brainer for me to take this opportunity and I just can’t wait to compete and do my best.”