Sgt. Frank Del Duca and speedskating champion Erin Jackson will lead the U.S. delegation in the Feb. 6 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
Army Sgt. Frank Del Duca and speedskating Olympic champion Erin Jackson have been selected as Team USA’s flag bearers for the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
The Opening Ceremony will be held at Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium in Milan, beginning at 8 p.m. local time. NBC and Peacock will present live coverage of the Opening Ceremony on Friday, Feb. 6, beginning at 2 p.m. ET. Primetime coverage will begin at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and Peacock.
Del Duca, in his second Olympics in the bobsled, and Jackson were selected for the honor through voting by their fellow Team USA athletes.
Preparing for her third Olympic Winter Games, Jackson will aim to defend her Beijing 2022 gold medal in the 500 meters and compete in the 1,000 meters as well. Joining Jackson in leading the U.S. delegation is Del Duca, who made his Olympic Winter Games debut at Beijing 2022 and has been in the sport for over a decade. He is part of the U.S. Army's World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) and a sergeant in the U.S. Army stationed in Lake Placid, N.Y.
“Being flag bearer for Team USA is an incredible honor,” Del Duca said. “It was also quite the surprise. I'm grateful for the support from my teammates, coaches and staff, Team USA, U.S. Army WCAP, family and friends, and everyone who has helped me on this journey.
“With the Olympic Games being held in Italy, it means even more. Nearly everyone in my family is of Italian descent. There is no greater honor than leading Team USA into the Opening Ceremony in Italy. It feels like a bridge between my family's heritage, and the country I’m so proud to serve. I know my grandfather is watching over me saying, ‘Hey, Frangesch, way to go kid,’ and would be so proud.”
“Being chosen to represent the United States on the world stage is a tremendous honor,” Jackson said. “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. The Olympics remind us of the power of sport to connect and inspire, and I’m proud to carry that forward on the Olympic stage.”
Jackson becomes the eighth U.S. speedskater in history to earn the honor of Team USA flag bearer, while Del Duca becomes the sixth bobsledder to carry the flag.
Team USA fans can follow the 2026 U.S. Olympic Team at TeamUSA.com and across Team USA’s social channels on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. The U.S. Olympic Team microsite will offer Team USA results from the Olympic Winter Games, as well as athlete biographies, sport storylines and more.
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