Taufatofua was announced as a flag bearer ahead of Friday's Opening Ceremony for the Milan Cortina Olympics, and he appeared near the end of the night carrying the Olympic flag as a "messenger of peace," alongside Tadatoshi Akiba, Rebeca Andrade, Maryam Bukar Hassan, Nicolo Govoni, Filippo Grandi, Eliud Kipchoge and Cindy Ngamba.

Here's what you need to know about Erin Jackson and Frank Del Duca, the Team USA flag bearers for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Olympic anthem, first performed at the 1896 Athens Games, was featured at the 2026 Milan Cortina Opening Ceremony. Here’s the history behind the song. (AP photo)

Speedskater Erin Jackson and bobsledder Frank Del Duca have been chosen as the U.S. flag bearers for the Milan Cortina Olympics opening ceremony on Friday.

Nearly 10 years after Tonga's flag bearer first went viral with his oiled-up appearance at the Olympics, he's back for 2026. (AP Photo)

Team USA announced two flag bearers for the second consecutive Winter Games

Ceretti, a native of Brescia, Italy, just 90 minutes away from Milan, handed off the Italian flag to the Italian Carabinieri’s honour guard, the Corazzieri, during the ceremony on Friday, Feb. 6 at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy.

Vittoria Ceretti dazzled at the Winter Olympics 2026 opening ceremony. The supermodel wore a white, floor-length Armani gown with a high neckline while holding the Italian flag at Milan’s San Siro Stadium.

Bowe, a four-time Olympian who was one of Jackson’s role models back in their hometown of Ocala, Fla., was one of the American team’s flag bearers at the 2022 Beijing Games.