Winter Olympics 2026: Hilary Knight and Evan Bates to Carry Flag for Team USA

Hilary Knight and Evan Bates will carry the flag for Team USA at the Closing Ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics, recognizing Knight's record-breaking hockey goals and Bates' ice dance legacy.

20 Feb, 13:09 — 20 Feb, 15:32

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Why this matters

The selection of flag bearers for the Olympic Games is a significant honor, representing a nation's athletic spirit and values on a global stage. This announcement for the 2026 Winter Olympics comes amidst ongoing geopolitical discussions regarding athlete participation, including controversies surrounding neutral athletes and potential boycotts. The chosen athletes, Hilary Knight and Evan Bates, embody the excellence and leadership expected to represent Team USA in this complex international environment.

Key entities

Hilary KnightTeam USA flag bearer Evan BatesTeam USA flag bearer Team USANational Olympic team Milan-CortinaHost city for 2026 Winter Olympics UkraineNation protesting Russian participation RussiaNation with controversial athlete participation Individual Neutral AthletesAthletes competing without national symbols

Coverage Timeline

First report: Daily Nation · 20 Feb, 13:09|Full coverage: All 4 sources within 2h|Window: 2h

Daily Nation20 Feb, 13:09First to report

2026 Paralympics: Ukrainian team to boycott opening ceremony due to Russian participation

1h later

AP20 Feb, 14:28

Norway wins its 17th gold medal, breaking record for most golds won in a single Winter Olympics - AP News

Yahoo20 Feb, 15:21

Olympic photo highlights from Day 14 of the Milan Cortina Winter Games

BBC20 Feb, 15:32Latest update

Neutral athletes allowed to attend Winters closing ceremony

Read at source (4 outlets)

BBC1d ago

Neutral athletes allowed to attend Winters closing ceremony

Individual Neutral Athletes will be allowed to attend the closing ceremony of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, having not been present at the opening event.

Read full article →

Yahoo1d ago