The first was Alfred Jochim, who carried the flag during the 1936 Opening Ceremony.
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Biles was chosen by a vote of fellow Team USA members.
It’s official – this year’s Olympics was all about Simone Biles.
It’s a huge honor for an athlete to win a gold medal in the Olympics.
Earlier in the day, the US women’s basketball team has won its sixth consecutive Olympic gold medal, routing Spain 101-72.
Simone Biles, 19, won four gold medals and one bronze medal for Team USA in Rio de Janeiro.
Being the flag bearer in the Closing Ceremony has its privileges. The win means a great deal to Park, the world’s top-ranked player, as she has missed most of the 2016 season with a thumb injury.
Biles had anxious the flag might be too heavy for her, especially compared to the 6-foot-4 swimmer Michael Phelps, who was flag-bearer in the opening ceremony.
“It’s an incredible honour to be selected as the flag bearer by my Team USA team-mates”, said Biles. Her gold medals include Women’s Vault, Women’s Team All-Around, Women’s Floor Exercise, and Women’s Individual All-Around.
For Biles, the culmination of her first Olympics probably couldn’t end in a better way.
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As if winning five Olympic medals and meeting Zac Efron didn’t do enough to make a memorable Games for Simone Biles, she adds one more experience to her time in Rio. “But the gymnast, who is listed at 4’8”, admits that she’s a little concerned about how she’ll carry the flag.
