Taekwondo athlete Kendall Yount (Owenton, Kentucky) was selected to lead the 92-member 2014 U.S. Youth Olympic Team into Saturday’s (Aug. 16) Opening Ceremony as flag bearer, as announced today by the United States Olympic Committee. Yount was chosen by a vote of fellow Team USA members who will compete at the Youth Olympic Games from Aug. 16-28 in Nanjing, China.
“It is a great honor to carry the flag at the Opening Ceremony and to represent my country both in and outside of competition at the Youth Olympic Games,” said Yount. “I am humbled to have been selected by my peers and excited to represent Team USA.”
A member of the U.S. junior national team since 2011, Yount had a breakout season in 2013, in which she captured the gold medal at the Pan American Championships. The four-time junior national champion continued her success in 2014, winning gold at both the U.S. Open and USA Taekwondo National Team Trials. After finishing second at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games qualifier, held March 20-21 in Chinese Taipei, the 16-year-old is looking to add another podium finish in Nanjing, where she will be the sole competitor representing Team USA in taekwondo.
“On behalf of the entire U.S. delegation, I’d like to congratulate Kendall on this tremendous honor,” said Charlie Paddock, chef de mission for Team USA. “Kendall’s commitment to excellence is evident in her achievements both on and off the field of play, and I am excited to watch her represent Team USA at the Opening Ceremony and in competition.”
Yount is the third Youth Olympian to serve as Opening Ceremony flag bearer for Team USA. Hannah Carson (track and field) and Jake Peterson (bobsled) also carried the flag at the inaugural summer and winter editions of the Youth Olympic Games in 2010 and 2012.
The Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games will feature 3,800 athletes from 204 nations. The 13-day competition for athletes between the ages of 15 and 18 will include all 28 sports on the program for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The United States will be represented in 22 disciplines across 20 sports.
U.S. Youth Olympic Team Opening Ceremony Flag Bearers
2010 Hannah Carson, track and field
2012 Jake Peterson, bobsled
2014 Kendall Yount, taekwondo
Swimming News / Olympic News courtesy of the USOC.