Steve Serio and Nicky Nieves picked as US flagbearers for Paralympics opening ceremony

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PARIS (AP) — Former gold medalists Steve Serio and Nicky Nieves have been chosen as the United States’ flagbearers for the Paralympics opening ceremony, the American Olympic and Paralympic committee announced Friday.

Serio has helped the U.S.'s wheelchair basketball team to gold medals at the 2016 and 2020 Paralympic Games. A five-time world champion, he is co-captain of its 2024 team along with Trevon Jenifer.

“I’m overwhelmed and honored,” Serio said. “I never thought this would be something that I’d get to experience in my career. I want to say thank you to all the Team USA athletes."

Nieves helped Team USA win its first gold in sitting volleyball in 2016.

“Being the flagbearer for Team USA means that all of my hard work was not in vain,” Nieves said. “I get to represent the country that made me who I am, with the best-of-the-best U.S. athletes by my side.”

The opening ceremony for the Paris Paralympics will be held across Place de la Concorde and the Champs Elyssés on Wednesday.

The flagbearers were chosen via a vote by fellow American Paralympic athletes. The American contingent is made up of 225 athletes and guides.

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AP Paralympics https://apnews.com/hub/paralympic-games