Erin Hamlin leads Team USA into Olympics after flagbearer controversy

February 9, 2018

Last Updated Feb 9, 2018 11:05 AM EST

Luge veteran Erin Hamlin has entered her last Olympics carrying the U.S. flag, which started as a feel-good story but quickly turned controversial. The large U.S. contingent is one of the more enthusiastic groups, and Hamlin smiled broadly as she waved the flag.

Hamlin and speedskater Shani Davis were among several candidates for the flagbearer role and athletes from each of the eight winter sports federations voted in the process, which eventually deadlocked at 4-4. Hamlin won a coin toss, which was the predetermined method of picking a winner should the vote end in a tie.

A tweet posted to Davis’ Twitter account said the process by which Hamlin won the honor was executed “dishonorably.”

I am an American and when I won the 1000m in 2010 I became the first American to 2-peat in that event. @TeamUSA dishonorably tossed a coin to decide its 2018 flag bearer. No problem. I can wait until 2022. #BlackHistoryMonth2018 #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/dsmTtNkhJs

— Shani Davis (@ShaniDavis) February 8, 2018

On paper, Davis would seem the more worthy candidate. He’s a five-time Olympian and has won two gold medals and two silver medals.

Hamlin is a four-time Olympian who won a bronze at the 2014 Sochi Games and is a two-time world champion. She is retiring after these Olympics.

On Friday, Davis posted another tweet with a more conciliatory tone about the Olympics.

It has been such an honor to have represented the greatest, most diverse country in the world at the last five Winter Games during the same month as #blackhistorymonth #goTeamUSA Watch “Origins of Black History Month” https://t.co/NwGRBpBvTO

— Shani Davis (@ShaniDavis) February 9, 2018

Hours before Davi’s tweet was posted, the four-time Olympian was excited about the North Korean athletes who are participating in the games, CBS News foreign correspondent Ben Tracy reports.

“That’s what it’s all about is bringing people together in a peaceful environment to celebrate sport and something that we all love to do,” Hamlin told reporters.