By Emmanuel Bobby
A Florida speedskater who won Olympic gold in Beijing and a Maine bobsledder making his second Olympic appearance will carry the U.S. flag at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy, officials announced Tuesday.
Erin Jackson, the reigning Olympic champion in speedskating, and bobsled pilot Frank Del Duca were selected as flag bearers by a vote of their fellow Team USA athletes, according to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
The announcement was made Tuesday morning on the “TODAY” show.
“Being chosen by their fellow athletes is a powerful reflection of the respect they’ve earned through their leadership, commitment, and the way they represent Team USA every day,” USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland said. “Erin and Frank embody the values of excellence and unity that define our Olympic Team, and we’re proud to have them lead Team USA onto the world stage.”
Del Duca, 34, is from Bethel, Maine, and competed in both the two-man and four-man bobsled events at the 2022 Beijing Games, where he did not medal. The U.S. men’s bobsled team last reached the podium in 2014.
An Army sergeant stationed in Lake Placid, New York, Del Duca joined the Army in 2019 and is part of its World Class Athlete Program. He described being chosen as flag bearer as “something special” and called the support of his teammates “the utmost honor.”
“It was also quite the surprise,” Del Duca said.
Speaking about balancing military service and elite athletics, he said the experiences “complement each other” and credited the Army with helping make him “a better father and teammate.”
With the Games taking place in Italy, the moment carries personal significance for Del Duca, whose family is largely of Italian descent.
“There is no greater honor than leading Team USA into the Opening Ceremony in Italy,” he said. “It feels like a bridge between my family’s heritage and the country I’m so proud to serve.”
Jackson, 33, was born and raised in Ocala, Florida, and won gold in the women’s 500 meters at the Beijing Olympics. That victory made her the first Black woman from any country to win a gold medal in a Winter Olympic event.
“At the time, it was really surprising,” Jackson previously said at U.S. speedskating trials. “When you think about how many Winter Olympics we’ve had, I just thought it was really strange. I hope people can see my story — and the stories of other Black women in winter sports — and hopefully we’ll have more coming up soon.”
Jackson called being chosen as flag bearer a “tremendous honor.”
“It’s a moment that reflects far more than one individual — it represents my family, my teammates, my hometown, and everyone across the country who believes in the power of sport,” she said. “The Olympics remind us of the power of sport to connect and inspire.”
On the “TODAY” show, Jackson said teammates told her they had been “voting for you like crazy.”
The honor, she said, is “pretty overwhelming,” but she added that she is excited to share the moment with her teammates. As the defending champion, Jackson said she is eager to compete again and hopes to bring home another medal.
Jackson becomes the eighth U.S. speedskater to serve as an Olympic flag bearer, while Del Duca is the sixth bobsledder to receive the honor.
The opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics is scheduled for Friday. Competition begins Wednesday with curling events.
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