When Olympic speed skater Shani Davis tied with luger Erin Hamlin for who would carry the flag in the Winter Olympics opening ceremony, a coin toss determined the winner
The flag bearer is typically chosen in a vote by the eight US winter sport federations, each representing the individual sports: biathlon, bobsled and skeleton, curling, figure skating, hockey, luge, ski and snowboarding, and speed skating.
But this year, Hamlin and Davis tied 4-4.
Enter the coin toss, Davis said.
Hamlin was chosen, according to the US Olympic Committee .
And Davis was definitely not happy about it, venting in a tweet that the coin toss was “dishonorably” done.
“I am an American and when I won the 1000m in 2010 I became the first American to 2-peat in that event,” Davis tweeted. “@TeamUSA dishonorably tossed a coin to decide its 2018 flag bearer. No problem. I can wait until 2022. #BlackHistoryMonth2018 #PyeongChang2018.”
CNN has reached out to the US Olympic Committee for comment.
For her part, Hamlin said she was excited about being to able to carry the flag.
“Working hard and earning success is one thing, being acknowledged as a great representative and member of Team USA by fellow athletes — many who I have been inspired by — is above and beyond anything I’ve experienced,” Hamlin said in a statement.
“It is definitely a privilege and honor to be the one to lead the team and will be a very special moment. I can’t wait to share it with them all!”
