PYEONGCHANG, South Korea – The United States Olympic team’s selection of flag bearer for Friday’s Opening Ceremony sparked controversy on Thursday night, as a tweet from the account of long-track speedskater Shani Davis angrily attacked the method used, even suggesting there could have been a racial element involved.
Davis, a four-time Olympic medalist and five-time Olympian, was picked by U.S. Speedskating as its candidate for flag bearer. However, in a vote among team representatives from each U.S. Winter Games federation, the 35-year-old tied with luge athlete Erin Hamlin. Her bronze at Sochi 2014 was the first medal for an American in singles luge in Olympic history.