Hilary Knight and Evan Bates have been chosen as Team USA’s flag bearers for the closing ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Both athletes are making their fifth Olympic appearance — and confirmed final one, in Knight’s case — and are earning the honor for the first time.
Knight, who got engaged to speed skater Brittany Bowe at the Games, served as captain of the U.S. women’s hockey squad that beat Canada, 2-1, in overtime to win the gold medal. She scored a game-tying goal with just over two minutes remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. That marked the 15th goal and 33rd point of her Olympic career, shattering the American record for both.
Knight learned she’d serve as a flag bearer live on TODAY Feb. 20 while appearing on the show alongside her teammates.
“Hilary, you’ve capped off your Olympic career with gold, but something even more golden is you’ll be leading Team USA out at closing ceremony,” Megan Keller, who scored the game-winning goal in the gold medal game against Canada, told her, as the rest of the team cheered.
“Are you serious?” Knight said after getting the news and being presented with a white Team USA coat.
Even after letting the news sink in for a bit, Knight was still blown away.
“I’m filled with so much joy to be able to lead out Team USA alongside Evan. It’s such an incredible honor, and I can’t wait. It’s a dream come true,” she said Feb. 20 in a joint interview with Bates on the 3rd hour of TODAY.
Ice dancer Bates won a gold medal in the figure skating team event and silver in ice dance alongside his wife and partner, Madison Chock. Bates is touched that his fellow athletes from Team USA voted him for the job.
“It’s so humbling — 232 U.S. athletes, everyone with their own story, and so many who are worthy of this honor, but it’s hard to describe what it feels like,” he said.
“And to walk out with Hilary, who we’ve done five Olympics together with, even shared a skate sharpener in Montreal together, so we’ve got some history, and now we’re going to be bonded forever,” he added.
Chock delivered the flag bearer news to her husband in front of their team, with TODAY on hand.
“I’m so, so honored to be part of this team. You guys are all so wonderful. And I think I can speak for Evan and myself when I say we are all so proud of everything you guys have accomplished and the people that you are and the people that you’ve become to be here today,” she said.
“So it’s my great honor to share this experience with you and now that we’ve had such a wonderful week, I want to present Evan with something. You have been selected as the closing flag bearer,” she continued to rousing cheers.
Bates and Chock then exchanged a hug and kiss as chants of “USA” went on. He was also presented with a white Team USA coat before the entire team leaned in for a hug and Bates and Chock once again embraced.
The closing ceremony will take place Feb. 22 at the Verona Arena, a 2,000-year-old historic amphitheater. The event will air live at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and also be streamed on Peacock. (TODAY.com and Peacock share a parent company.)
