Erin Hamlin leads Team USA into Olympic stadium after flagbearer controversy
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."
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.
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.
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Wow, the Butthurt is large with this one. Pre-established procedures, vote was taken, tie vote, coin toss. How is that dishonorable?
It isn't, just poor sportsmenship from an athelete. I guess he takes his lead from today's political environment in the states. But this complaint? Just makes him look small.
Agreed.
This isn't a vote for "MVP". It's for "flagbearer", and I hope there were criteria other than just the number of medals. What makes this person the best choice to represent the country?
The votes of their peers. And in case of a tie, a coin toss, all pre-established rules. I thik this guy went from being a great skater to a whiny little child in many peoples' minds.
Dare we say that Shani felt he was "entitled", despite the pre-established procedures?
I'm guessing yes. I doubt he thought it was fair there was a tie in the first place-coulds say soemthing about how his fellow atheletes feel about him.
Oh there's no doubt. A comment in one news article I read on it went:
I think the knuckle head is trying to make it about race.