Olympic fencer Mariel Zagunis was chosen Wednesday to lead the 529-member U.S. Olympic Team as a flag bearer in Friday’s Opening Ceremony, the United State Olympic Committee announced.
The University of Notre Dame alum and two-time Olympian heading into her third Olympic competition was voted to take on the leading role by her peers and teammates on Team USA.
Zagunis first won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in 2004, marking the first U.S. fencer to win the gold in 100 years. Since then, the 27-year-old athlete has served as a prominent athlete fencing for the United States.
Her leading strut will make her the third fencer to serve as a flag bearer, following Norman Armitage and Janice Lee Romary.
Zagunis is set to compete in the fencing even on Aug. 1.
