When LeBron James raised the American flag over the Seine River during the 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony on Friday, a meme was born.
James, who serves as the flag-bearer for the United States alongside tennis star Coco Gauff, has been compared on social media to the iconic image of George Washington crossing the Delaware River.
As the U.S. team boat navigated the waters of Paris, rain poured down on the NBA legend and about 600 U.S. Olympians, creating an iconic scene for the two-time gold medalist.
James was nominated by his fellow U.S. Olympians to be the men’s flag bearer for the Paris Games, becoming just the third basketball player and the first man to carry the U.S. flag at the opening ceremony.
2024 Paris Olympics
“Representing the United States on this global stage at this moment when the world is coming together is an incredible honor,” James said. “For a kid from Akron, this responsibility means everything not only to me, but to my family, to kids in my hometown, to my teammates, my fellow Olympians and to so many people across the country who have big aspirations.”
“Sport has the power to bring us all together and I am proud to be a part of this important moment.”
James, competing in her fourth Olympic Games, was interviewed live on NBC as she watched the boars cross the Seine.
“For me and Coco to represent our country, as black kids, to represent our culture, to represent where we come from, gives so much hope to everybody where we come from,” James said. “That’s all we ask. We take it with the utmost responsibility and honor.”
