Coco Gauff didn’t pick up a medal at the Paris Olympics, but she certainly had a tournament to remember.
Gauff acted as the flag bearer for the United States at her very first Olympic Games, before reaching the third round of the illustrious competition.
She was eventually defeated by Donna Vekic after picking up victories against Ajla Tomljanović and María Lourdes Carlé.
Despite her early exit, the American managed to snag two selfies with two of the biggest icons in the sport.
Coco Gauff snapped two legendary selfies at the Olympics
Gauff was surrounded by sporting legends at the Paris Olympics, and she spent her tournament collecting memories along the way.
The star managed to get pictures with Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, and even snubbed the chance to do the same with Carlos Alcaraz.
Speaking after the event, she revealed: “I finally got a picture with Rafa [Nadal] and traded pins with him. Carlos [Alcaraz] didn’t have any pins so I didn’t let him get in the selfie!
“I finally got a picture with Andy [Murray], which I always wanted to ask. The two goals were to get a picture with those two, and ironically, they were tennis players so I could have done it at any tournament!”
Both men retired shortly after the Olympics.
Murray’s final tournament was at the Paris games, while Nadal played his final event at the Davis Cup a few months later.
Coco Gauff explained the importance of playing the Olympics
Gauff is still only 21 years old, despite making her tennis debut six years ago, so she has plenty more Olympic events in her.
The American plans to play as many events as she can, too, having loved her experience at the Paris Games.
After her surprise defeat, Gauff noted: “I think I’m just trying to learn from this experience and overall it was positive. I would a hundred percent choose to do it again, even if I lost first round in everything.
“It was something that was incredible. Being flag bearer was something I wouldn’t have expected, and meeting all the incredible people that I met, I don’t take it lightly. And every Olympics that I qualify in, I’ll for sure play unless I’m injured.”
Gauff’s next chance at Olympic glory will be on home soil as the Olympic Games come to Los Angeles in 2028.
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