Hilary Knight and Evan Bates Selected as Team USA’s Closing Ceremony Flag Bearers for Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026

Milan, Italy – Five-time Olympians Hilary Knight and Evan Bates were selected to lead the 2026 U.S. Olympic Team into the Closing Ceremony as flag bearers on Sunday, Feb. 22 at Verona Olympic Arena. The Closing Ceremony will begin at 8:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. ET/PT) in Verona, Italy and will air on NBC and stream on Peacock, with a primetime presentation later that night at 9 p.m. ET/PT also on NBC and Peacock. 
 

The 2026 Olympic champions, Knight and Bates were chosen by a vote of fellow Team USA athletes through a process led by the Team USA Athletes’ Commission, which serves as the representative group and voice of Team USA athletes. They are the first winter duo to share the honor of leading the delegation into the Closing Ceremony, which serves as the official close to the Olympic Winter Games. 
 
“Being chosen to represent the United States on the world stage is a tremendous honor,” Knight said. “It’s a moment that reflects far more than one individual. It represents my teammates, my family, and everyone across the country who believes in the power of sport. The Olympic Winter Games remind us how sport can unite and inspire, and I’m incredibly proud to carry that spirit forward as a Closing Ceremony flag bearer.” 

Providing the game-tying goal in the championship game to help secure Team USA’s gold medal, Knight once again cemented her place as one of the most accomplished athletes in Olympic ice hockey history. Knight captured her fifth Olympic medal in Milan, becoming Team USA’s all-time leading women’s Olympic goal scorer with 15 and points leader with 33. Her Olympic journey began 16 years ago with a silver medal at Vancouver 2010, and with five consecutive medals, she is now tied for second in Team USA women’s winter Olympic all-time medals and tied for first in silver medals. She becomes only the fourth ice hockey athlete to lead Team USA into an Opening or Closing Ceremony, joining legends Clarence Abel (1924-Opening), Cammi Granato (1998-Closing) and Julie Chu (2014-Closing) to hold the honor. 

 
Becoming the first American figure skater in any event to compete in five Olympic Winter Games, Bates added two medals in Milan, bringing his career total to three. Bates won gold in the team event and silver in the ice dance competition with partner and wife Madison Chock. In the team event, Team USA secured a one-point victory and became the first nation to successfully defend Olympic gold in the event. He began his Olympic career at Vancouver 2010 and earned his first medal at the Beijing 2022 Games, where he also won gold in the team event. He now sits tied for sixth in men’s all-time Olympic Winter Games medals. He becomes the first U.S. figure skater to carry the flag into an Olympic Opening or Closing Ceremony since Scott Hamilton in 1980, also joining Tim Wood who held the closing honor in 1968.  

 
“I’m deeply grateful to be selected as flag bearer and to represent both the United States and the sport of figure skating in this way,” said Bates. “To share this honor with Hilary makes it even more meaningful. My experience at the Milano Cortina Games has truly been incredible in so many ways, and I’m filled with appreciation for everyone who helped make it possible.” 

 
“Congratulations to our Closing Ceremony flag bearers, Hilary Knight and Evan Bates, who truly embody the pride, resilience and unity of Team USA,” said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland. “Milano Cortina 2026 has delivered unforgettable performances and historic achievements, and both Hilary and Evan - whose remarkable careers and dedication span many years at the highest levels of their sports - have played an important role in shaping the spirit of these Olympic Winter Games. We are honored to have them lead Team USA into the Closing Ceremony as we celebrate an extraordinary Olympic journey.” 
 
Follow Team USA in Milano Cortina

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.   

U.S Olympic Team Flag Bearers – Closing Ceremony (winter only)   

• 1960 Donald McDermott, Speed Skating 

• 1964 Jean Saubert, Alpine Skiing 

• 1968 Tim Wood, Figure Skating 

• 1972 Barbara Ann Cochran, Alpine Skiing 

• 1976 Sheila Young, Speed Skating 

• 1980 Eric Heiden, Speed Skating 

• 1984 Phil Mahre, Alpine Skiing 

• 1988 Bonnie Blair, Speed Skating 

• 1992 Bonnie Blair, Speed Skating 

• 1994 Dan Jansen, Speed Skating 

• 1998 Cammi Granato, Ice Hockey 

• 2002  Brian Shimer, Bobsled 

• 2006 Joey Cheek, Speed Skating 

• 2010 Bill Demong, Nordic Combined 

• 2014 Julie Chu, Ice Hockey 

• 2018 Jessie Diggins, Cross-Country Skiing 

• 2022 Elana Meyers Taylor, Bobsled 

• 2026 Hilary Knight, Ice Hockey | Evan Bates, Figure Skating