US Flag bearer

'Papa Mark' Grimmette will carry flag for America

by Trey Kirby

Just a month and a half after qualifying for the Olympics, luger Mark Grimmette has been chosen to carry the flag for the United States at Friday's Opening Ceremony. The 39-year-old will be appearing in his fifth Olympics, and will be only the third luger to carry the flag for the U.S.
After being told that he had been voted to carry the flag by the 216 United States Olympic athletes, Grimmette was shocked. He told the Associated Press, "I'm still shaking. I was incredibly surprised when Brian [Martin] told me, and I'm still trying to process it all. To be the person leading the U.S. team into the Opening Ceremony is just such a great honor."
Grimmette – along with Martin, his partner – is the most decorated American luger in history. The pair won the bronze medal at the 1998 Olympics and silver at the 2002 Games.
Grimmette will be one of only four Americans to compete in five Olympics.
Grimmette, nicknamed "Papa Mark" for his age, is well-respected among American Olympians. Looks like all that flexing will come in handy when he's waving the United States flag.

Congratulations to Mark. Mark is a super nice guy from LP. I think his previous nick name around the Lake Placid crowd was the teddy bear. He is an approachable guy and I always enjoyed hearing about his travels. One time, some of my family came to visit me in Lake Placid. As we were walking into the bike shop I worked at to give them a tour, I ran into Mark in the parking lot. I thought I'd introduce him to my family. I introduced him as one of the athletes who had won an Olympic medal that winter (It was June). By coincidence he had the medal in his pocket (He was coming back from a talking engagement). It was a nice gesture by him to be able to show my niece and sisters a real olympic medal and explain a little about his sport. That is the type of guy he is. That is the type of place Lake Placid is.