Speedskater Shani Davis skips Opening Ceremonies after being passed up as US flag-bearer
Speedskater Shani Davis skipped the Olympic Opening Ceremonies because he was not named the U.S. delegation's flag-bearer.
Luger Erin Hamlin was selected as the flag-bearer on Wednesday after coin toss since she and Davis tied in votes.
Hamlin was the first U.S. athlete to medal in singles luge four years ago in Sochi. She plans to retire after this year's Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
This news did not sit well with Davis, who is similarly worthy as a two-time gold medalist and the first black athlete to win gold in an individual Winter Olympic event. Early Thursday morning U.S. time, he tweeted out his displeasure with Hamlin's selection, which ultimately came down to a coin toss.
The flag-bearer was chosen from a pool of eight nominees, the Associated Press reported. One representative from each of the eight U.S. winter sports federations voted, and, because Hamlin and Davis each received four votes, the decision was left to a coin toss, in a process established beforehand by the USOC. Hamlin won the coin toss.