Team USA has chosen two respected athletes to carry the American flag at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. The ceremony is scheduled to be held on February 22 at the historic Verona Arena.
After witnessing a sea of clutch performances, the Winter Games has now neared its end and will conclude with an eye-catching closing ceremony. In this special moment, athletes from all around the world will gather one last time to celebrate the Games.
Most of the countries have elected two athletes to be the flag bearers at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Let’s have a look at the details of the flag bearers of Team USA.
Who are the flag bearers of Team USA for the closing ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics?
Two veterans, who have had emotional Olympic journeys, captain of the US women’s hockey team Hilary Knight and ice dancer Evan Bates, have been selected as the flag bearers of Team USA for the Milan-Cortina closing ceremony.
How did Hilary Knight perform at Milan, and how did she get to know about the closing ceremony honor?
Hilary Knight wrapped up her Winter Olympics campaign in a dramatic way, as she scored the game-tying goal in the final minutes of the gold medal showdown against Canada. With this win, she claimed her second Olympic gold medal along with three silver medals, solidifying her name as one of the greatest players in women’s hockey.
She concluded her Milan campaign with three goals and six points. Overall, she set a record for being the American with the most goals and points. Knight finished her 29-game Olympic career with 15 goals and 33 points.
Following this thrilling match, Knight, along with her team, appeared for an interview with Today on Friday. Here, her teammate, Megan Keller, announced that the 36-year-old has received the honor of being the flag bearer for the US at the closing ceremony.
“Hilary, you’ve capped off your Olympic career with gold, but something even more golden is you’ll be leading Team USA out at the closing ceremony,” said Keller.
This Olympic journey has also been special for Knight because she proposed to her longtime partner and long-track speed skater, Brittany Bowe. The couple came close to each other at the 2022 Beijing Games.
How did Evan Bates perform at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and how did he learn about the closing ceremony honor?
Evan Bates, along with his partner Madison Chock, delivered powerful performances throughout the 2026 Winter Olympics. This was their fourth Olympic appearance and their first one as a married couple. Their first medal in Milan came in the team event, where they played a pivotal role in helping their team win the gold medal.
They put up the season’s best in both the rhythm dance, scoring 91.06, and the free dance, where they scored 133.23, earning the important 20 points from the ice dancing area.
Following this, they won an individual silver medal in the free dance event on February 11. During this performance, they delivered powerful lifts, perfect twists, and more; however, they faced a narrow loss against their French opponents, Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron. Overall, the Americans scored 224.39 points to stand on the second step of the podium.
Shortly after this win, Bates received the closing ceremony’s flagbearer through his partner and wife, Chock, in front of their US teammates. The Today Show posted a video of the special moment on Instagram, where Chock, in front of Alysa Liu, Ilia Malinin, Amber Glenn, and more, said:
“I’m so, so honored to be part of this team. You guys are all so wonderful. And I think I can speak for Evan and myself when I say we are all so proud of everything you guys have accomplished and the people that you are and the people that you’ve become to be here today. So it’s my great honor to share this experience with you, and now that we’ve had such a wonderful week, I want to present Evan with something. You have been selected as the closing flagbearer,” Madison Chock said.
Chock and Bates’ video announcing the closing ceremony
Following this, Bates and Chock shared a warm hug, embracing the moment.
When and where to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics’ closing ceremony?
The closing ceremony will take place on February 22 at 2:00 pm (ET). Fans can witness the magic of the event on the NBC Olympics app, Peacock, and NBCOlympics.com.
Read More News:
Zara Larsson Reacts as Alysa Liu Skates to ‘Stateside’ at the 2026 Winter Olympics Gala
Amber Glenn Reveals Her Post-Olympic Goals and the One Thing She Wants Fans to Remember From Milan
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