Team USA Announces Flagbearers for the Youth Olympic Winter Games Gangwon 2024

GANGNEUNG, South Korea – The stage is set for the young athletes representing Team USA at The Youth Olympic Winter Games Gangwon 2024. Opening ceremonies will be held the night of Jan. 19 at the Gangneung Oval and PyeonChang Dome simultaneously, so that athletes located in remote mountainous regions do not have to travel a great distance to participate in a ceremonial walkthrough. The competition officially begins the following day on Jan. 20, with women’s singles luge kicking things off at 8 a.m. (Korean Standard Time).

Participants in Team USA’s flagbearer election chose the pair of Elizabeth Rhodehamel (short-track speed skating) and Noah Park (skeleton) to have the honor of holding the American flag, a first for both athletes.

Rhodehamel, who grew up figure skating, will begin competition on Jan. 20. However, her favorite event, the 500-meter race, takes place a few days later on the 22nd. The Madison, Wisconsin, native said in an interview with US Speedskating that she loves the short race because there is no time to overthink things.

“You go all-out, and you keep going all-out until the end," she said. "You get to the front and you try to keep your position and block people. It's over so quickly.

Park, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, will compete on Jan. 23. He has raced in PyeongChang before, and will also have to compete against his identical twin brother, Baden Park, in the men's skeleton event.