TORINO, Italy -- The 2006 U.S. Olympic Team elected five-time Olympian Chris Witty (West Allis, Wis.) as the flag bearer to lead the USA delegation into Friday night’s Opening Ceremony of the XX Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy.

"To be able to lead the U.S. Team into the Opening Ceremonies is a great honor," said Witty, a three-time Olympic medalist. "My peers elected me, including people from my sport who are great athletes in their own right such as Derek Parra, Apolo Ohno, Shani Davis, Chad Hedrick.  I'm touched that my own teammates elected me to this position. The U.S. Team won 34 medals in Salt Lake City at the 2002 Games and there are 39 of those medalists on this team [including men's and women's hockey, which has 17 returning medalists].  It's such an elite bunch of people and they are not only great athletes, but great individuals. I'm honored to represent them and I'm honored to represent our country.”

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Chris Witty Interview ... discusses her elation at being named flag bearer,
as well as what she's doing with Good Touch, Bad Touch,
a child abuse awareness program. Listen In!
Check out all of the U.S. Olympic Team podcasts!
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Witty’s talents on and off the ice have earned her a place in history as the ninth U.S. Olympian to compete in both the Winter and Summer Games.  She captured a gold medal in world record time in the 1000m at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games after winning silver in the 1000m and bronze in the 1500m at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games, making her America’s only double medalist and the only U.S. speedskating medalist at the 1998 Games. In addition, she placed fifth in the 500-meter time trial (cycling) at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. 

Witty, who grew up a mile away from three-time Olympian and 1994 Olympic gold medalist Dan Jansen, began her speedskating career at the age of nine, racing in a pair of figure skates. 

Her speedskating career led her to take up cycling at the age of 15, a natural crossover training regimen for speedskaters during the off-season.  Living in Wisconsin, her coach suggested she start competing in the track races at the Kenosha velodrome.  She quickly blossomed as a cyclist and in 1993 won two national cycling crowns as well as a silver medal at the Pan American Games that same year.

When she’s not training or competing, Witty, 30, lends her time to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) where she acts as an Athlete Ambassador.  She is also a strong advocate of child abuse awareness programs.

At the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, Witty will compete in the 500-, 1000- and the 1500-meters, with her first competition, the 500m, set for Tuesday, Feb. 14.

As a five-time Olympian [just the 25th U.S. Olympian to compete in five or more Olympic Games], three-time medalist and only the ninth person to compete in both the Olympic Winter and Summer Games, Witty now adds 2006 U.S. flag bearer to an already impressive list of Olympic accomplishments.

"I'm a pretty modest person and feel that a true champion is not only one that is victorious in sport, but is an all-around good person who stays true to themselves," Witty said.  "I just want to say thank you to the entire U.S. Team.  I'm honored just to have made this team. Now to lead them into Opening Ceremonies is very moving and I hope that I can return the honor by representing them well."  

U.S. OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES TEAM FLAG BEARERS

1924          Clarence John Abel (Ice Hockey)

1928          Godfrey Dewey (President, Lake Placid Organizing Committee)

1932          William Mead Fiske III (Bobsled)

1936          Rolf B. Monsen (Nordic Skiing)

1948          John R. Heaton (Bobsled)

1952          James John Bickford (Bobsled)

1956          James John Bickford (Bobsled)

1960          Donald J. McDermott (Speedskating)

1964          William D. Disney (Speedskating)

1968          Richard T. McDermott (Speedskating)

1972          Dianne Holum (Speedskating)

1976          Cynthia Nelson (Alpine Skiing)

1980          Scott Hamilton (Figure Skating)

1984          Frank Masley (Luge)

1988          Lyle Nelson (Biathlon)

1992          Bill Koch (Nordic Skiing)

1994          Cammy Myler (Luge)

1998          Eric Flaim (Short Track Speedskating)

2002         Amy Peterson (Short Track Speedskating)