Picabo wants to carry flag for the U.S.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AP) -- Picabo Street has said out loud what other athletes only whisper to themselves: She wants to carry the U.S. flag at the opening ceremonies Friday night for the Salt Lake City Winter Games.

"I hope I'm the one they see fit to carry it," the two-time Olympic medalist said at a news conference Tuesday. "It could certainly be the greatest moment in my career. I'm that patriotic."

The flag bearer for the U.S. team will be announced Thursday.

Street, who is seeking a third Olympic medal when she competes in this year's downhill, said she was chosen by her teammates to carry the flag at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, but declined due to the lingering affects of a concussion from a crash a month earlier.

After making that decision, Street said she spent three days crying in her room.

Salt Lake City will be the last Olympics for the 30-year-old leader of the U.S. women's Alpine team and she's determined to make the most of it.

"I've got as good a chance as anybody at taking the gold," the Utah resident said confidently. "It's in my back yard. I'm comfortable. I couldn't ask for anything more."

 

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