US tennis star Coco Gauff reveals biggest ‘fear’ moment at the 2024 Paris Olympics
The American star is focused on winning a medal in her first Summer Olympics, but that’s not her biggest concern right now.
The 2024 Olympic Games get start today three years after the ones held in Tokyo came to a close. The world’s sports news will be focused on the global event that will take place in the French capital for the next two weeks and all the athletes that are in the city will try to make the most of the experience.
One of them is Coco Gauff, who will participate in her first-ever Olympics. The 2023 US Open champion is looking to make history in the women’s tennis tournament by clinching a medal. She could enjoy her chances of achieving that feat, as the event will be contested at the French Open facilities, where she played the 2022 tournament’s final.
Iga Swiatek and other talented players like Jasmine Paolini, Karolina Muchova, or Elena Rybakina are expected to be some of the biggest threats to the American’s goal.
What’s Gauff’s biggest ‘fear’ moment at the Paris Olympics?
Although the tennis event starts tomorrow, Saturday 27, Gauff seems more worried about the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony, where she will carry the American flag next to basketball superstar LeBron James.
The Atlanta native player, who will be the youngest-ever US flag bearer in the Games, admitted she’s nervous about meeting the four-time NBA champion when the two hold the American flag during the ceremony.
“I think meeting LeBron James, that’s the most exciting part about it. Most nervous, I’m just hoping it is not too hot. I know we’re going to be in the water and we’re going to be in those blazers”, she said.
“(...) My team is really nagging me about getting pins from him so I will try to ask him for pins for my team and my captain, but I don’t know, I’m kind of scared”, she continued.
“I’m literally going in blind. I’ve been looking at pictures of other opening ceremonies but I don’t think anyone has ever done it on a boat so I have no idea what I’m supposed to do. I just hope I don’t drop it and I hope it’s not too high”, Gauff added.
The American, who also said she’s honored to represent the USA at such a big event, will debut in the tennis competition on Sunday, July 28, against the Australian Alja Tomljanovic. Her first doubles game with Jessica Pegulla will be played one day before, on Saturday, July 27.