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All About USA's Closing Ceremony Flag Bearers Evan Bates and Hilary Knight

The Olympians were honored to represent Team U.S.A. during the 2026 Winter Games Closing Ceremony.

By Jessica White

As Olympians cast aside the high-stakes competition of the Milan Cortina Winter Games, they were in for a treat as Italy delivered a larger-than-life Closing Ceremony where Evan Bates and Hilary Knight represented Team U.S.A. as flag bearers.

How to Watch

Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics on NBC and Peacock.

Bates, a three-time Olympic skater, and Knight, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the Captain of the U.S. women's hockey team, are celebrating a triumphant end to the Winter Games after being selected as the U.S. flag bearers. The Closing Ceremony is always a treat as athletes all take a breather after weeks of mind-blowing competition, with the cherished parade of athletes serving as a powerful reminder of the unity of sport. Whether it was a nail-biting hockey match or gravity-defying figure skating programs, the 2026 Winter Games were in no shortage of thrills, and the Closing Ceremony in Verona served as an epic end to the festivities. From larger-than-life performances from famous Italian icons to the cherished parade of athletes and the traditional handover ceremony, the 2026 Winter Games go out with a bang.

RELATED: Everyone Performing at the 2026 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony

Learn more about Team U.S.A.'s flag bearers, Evan Bates and Hilary Knight, and their whirlwind Olympic journey, below.

Evan Bates on bearing the flag: "It's so humbling"

Hilary Knight and Evan Bates wave the USA flag together at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics Closing Ceremony.

One of the most decorated skaters in Olympic history, ice dancer Bates was the perfect choice for flag bearer as a five-time Olympian, three-time Olympic medalist, three-time world champion, and seven-time national champion. Bates' longtime skating partner and wife, Madison Chock, was honored to drop the news that he would bear the American flag during the Closing Ceremony, an achievement that sparked his entire skating team to embrace him in a proud group hug. With their seventh U.S. title victory in January 2026, Chock and Bates now hold the record for most consecutive podium finishes at U.S. Nationals in any discipline.

"It's so humbling: 232 athletes, every one with their own story, and so many who are worthy of this honor," Bates told TODAY while reflecting on becoming a flag bearer. "It's hard to describe what it feels like. And to walk out with Hilary, who I've done five Olympics together with — we even shared a skate sharpener in Montreal together, so we've got some history — and now, we're going to be bonded forever."

Stream the 2026 Olympic Winter Games on Peacock!

The 2026 Olympic Winter Games take place February 6-22 in Milan, and you can watch them all on Peacock. Anywhere. Any time.  

Every event in the Games — yes, every one! — is streaming live and on-demand on Peacock.  And with features like Multiview and Rinkside Live, you're not just watching the competition: You're experiencing it.  

Visit the Olympics hub on Peacock to access these features during the Games:  

  • Multiview: Stream multiple live Olympic events on one screen simultaneously. With Discovery Multiview, watch up to four different events at once; with Traditional Multiview, focus on the action within one sport (e.g. curling or hockey).  

  • Rinkside Live: An immersive viewing mode for figure skating and hockey, featuring an interactive, mobile-first view with multiple camera angles and live highlights that give fans complete control over their Olympics experience. 

  • Can't Miss Highlights: Swipe through vertical stories to get quick recaps of the Games, athlete stories, and other big moments, only on the Peacock mobile app. 

  • Gold Zone: "Whip around" coverage of the biggest moments from the Winter Games, delivering live updates on all the happenings from Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. 

  • Prediction Games: Guess outcomes, track results, and more, only on the Peacock mobile app. Test your Olympics knowledge with trivia questions on history, sports, athletes, and interesting facts.  

Got more questions about the 2026 Olympic Winter Games? OLI, NBCUniversal’s AI-powered Olympic guide, has answers. Read more about OLI here.  

Sign up for Peacock now to make sure you're not missing a second of the 2026 Olympics! 

RELATED: Which Country Has Won the Most Medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics? Total Medal Count

Hilary Knight ended her Olympic career with a bang

Gold medalist Hilary Knight, #21, of team United States celebrates after the medal ceremony for Women's Ice Hockey at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Joining Bates in the honor is Team U.S.A. women's hockey Captain Hilary Knight, a five-time Olympic medalist who ended her Olympic career in Milan. Knight couldn't have experienced a more picturesque finale for her Olympic career. Not only is she celebrating a recent Italian engagement to fellow Olympian, speedskater Brittany Bowe, but she also became the all-time leading goal scorer in Olympic history after winning gold in the U.S.' game against their long-standing rivals, Canada. Knight's teammate, Megan Keller, had the pleasure of telling Knight she'd been selected as flag bearer while celebrating their triumphant gold medal victory.

“We’ve been through everything together, and you know, I consider her part of my family, and for her to announce the flag bearer and closing ceremonies, and it was just so special, and it was really hard not to cry on live TV,” Knight said in an interview. Knight will be heading home after celebrating a swoon-worthy proposal, a gold medal, and the honor of bearing the U.S. flag, a true Olympic happily-ever-after.

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