Erin Jackson and Frank Del Duca Named U.S. Flag Bearers for Milan‑Cortina 2026 Opening
Updated (3 articles)
Selection Process Conducted by Fellow Olympians The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced on February 3, 2026 that speed skater Erin Jackson and bobsled pilot Frank Del Duca were chosen by their fellow athletes to carry the U.S. flag at the opening ceremony on Friday night [1]. Both athletes will lead the delegation during the ceremony that marks the start of the Milan‑Cortina Games [1]. Their selection reflects a peer‑voted tradition intended to honor recent achievements and leadership within Team USA [1].
Jackson Makes Historic First as Black Female Gold Medalist Jackson, a 33‑year‑old speedskater, became the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at the Beijing Winter Olympics, securing the title in the 500 m event [1]. Her historic victory adds to her résumé as the eighth American speedskater ever to serve as a flag bearer [1]. The honor marks her inaugural appearance in this role, succeeding Elana Meyers Taylor, who missed the 2022 ceremony due to a COVID‑19 diagnosis [1].
Del Duca Breaks Seven‑Decade Bobsled Flag‑Bearer Drought Del Duca, a 34‑year‑old Army sergeant and top U.S. bobsled pilot, will be the first bobsled athlete to carry the flag since 1956 [1]. He placed fourth in both the two‑man and four‑man events at the 2023 World Championships on Lake Placid and finished 13th in each discipline at the Beijing Olympics, underscoring his elite status [1]. His selection highlights the resurgence of U.S. bobsledding on the international stage [1].
Opening Ceremony Spreads Across Four Italian Venues The opening ceremony will be staged primarily in Milan, with additional athlete parades in Predazzo, Livigno, and Cortina d’Ampezzo, making these the most geographically dispersed Winter Games to date [1]. This multi‑site format aims to showcase the diverse Alpine regions hosting the 2026 event [1]. The ceremony is scheduled for Friday night, marking the official kickoff of the Games [1].
Timeline
1847 – Annin Flagmakers is founded and later supplies flags for historic moments such as Lincoln’s casket and the Apollo 11 moon landing, establishing a long‑standing role in U.S. national symbolism. [2][3]
1956 – The United States last features a bobsled athlete as an Olympic flag bearer, a distinction not repeated until Frank Del Duca’s selection for 2026. [1]
Feb 2022 – At the Beijing Winter Games, speedskater Erin Jackson wins the 500 m, becoming the first Black woman to earn an individual Olympic speedskating gold for the U.S.; bobsled pilot Frank Del Duca finishes 13th in both two‑ and four‑man events, and former flag‑bearer Elana Meyers Taylor misses the opening ceremony after a positive COVID‑19 test. [1]
2025 – At the Lake Placid World Championships, Del Duca places fourth in both the two‑ and four‑man bobsled, underscoring his elite status ahead of the 2026 Games. [1]
Dec 22, 2025 – Annin announces it will supply all Team USA flags for the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics; workers say “the work is deeply personal…when a father receives a flag we made, he flies it and tells his daughter we made it,” while Olympians Mikaela Shiffrin, Jason Brown and Bradie Tennell note “the flag and anthem bring home, pride and the duty to represent the United States.” [2][3]
Jan 2026 – Annin’s Coshocton plant reaches its peak output, turning out roughly 67,000 American flags each week as the busiest month in preparation for the Games. [2][3]
Feb 3, 2026 – Erin Jackson and Army Sergeant Frank Del Duca are chosen by fellow Olympians to carry the U.S. flag at the opening ceremony of the Milan‑Cortina Games; Jackson makes history as the first Black woman gold‑medalist speedskater to bear the flag, and Del Duca becomes the first bobsled flag bearer since 1956, with the ceremony spanning four Italian venues. [1]