Alvarez, who won a silver medal in speedskating at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, and Bird were chosen by a vote of fellow U.S. athletes. They are the first duo to share the honor of leading the delegation into the ceremony.

Bird is the second U.S. women’s basketball player to carry the flag, joining current coach Dawn Staley, who did it at the 2004 games. Those were the first that Bird participated in.

Is there anything better than breaking the news to your teammate of 20 years that they get to represent @TeamUSA at the Olympics? 🇺🇸 @DianaTaurasi and @S10Bird are #friendshipgoals 😍 (🎥 @usabasketball) pic.twitter.com/MlZ2KVII1p

— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) July 21, 2021

“It’s an incredible honor to be selected the flag bearer for Team USA,” Bird said. “I know what that means, because I got to witness Dawn Staley go through it when she was selected in 2004. It’s an honor that is bigger than the moment in that you’ve been selected by your fellow Team USA athletes to represent the entire delegation, and it will last forever.”

Bird will be trying to win an unprecedented fifth gold medal with teammate Diana Taurasi, which would give them the most in golds in women’s basketball history.

Alvarez becomes the first baseball player to carry the flag for the U.S. The sport returned to the Games at the request of Japan after being absent from the previous two Olympics.

Being a @TeamUSA flag bearer is an honor @eddyalvarez90 will never forget. 🇺🇸#TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/MHZrnbLplr

— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 21, 2021

He made his major league debut last year with the Miami Marlins, but has been in the minors this year. If the U.S. baseball team were to medal, he’d be only the third American to medal in both the Winter and Summer Games, joining Eddie Egan (boxing and bobsled) and Lauryn Williams (track and field and bobsled).

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