Frank Del Duca, a two-time Olympian from Bethel, Maine, will be Team USA’s male flag bearer at the 2026 Winter Olympics alongside Erin Jackson. His selection signals he’ll likely pilot the top U.S. two-man sled in Cortina, so bettors may shorten his two-man odds and consider increased chances for a podium or top‑4 finish.
Frank Del Duca to Carry Team USA Flag at 2026 Winter Olympics
Frank Del Duca, 34, was chosen as Team USA’s male flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony in the Olympics in Milan. He will lead the American delegation into San Siro alongside speedskater Erin Jackson, who is a three-time Olympian and 2022 500m gold medalist.
Olympic Form and Recent Results
World Cup and World Championships Performance
Del Duca is a two-time Olympian who took up bobsled in 2015 and first represented the United States at the 2022 Beijing Games, finishing 13th in both the two-man and four-man events. At the 2025 World Championships he led U.S. crews to fourth-place finishes in both events and currently sits fourth in the World Cup standings.
Role on the Team
Del Duca is expected to pilot the Americans’ top sled in the two-man event; official pairings will be announced later. The bobsled competition is scheduled to begin in Cortina on Feb. 15.
Background: Military Service and Early Athletic Roots
Del Duca is a sergeant in the U.S. Army stationed in Lake Placid, N.Y., and competes with support from the Army World Class Athlete Program. A former state champion ski racer at Telstar High School in Bethel, Maine, he later walked on to the track and field squad at the University of Maine.
Historical Notes and Team Selection
This is the second Winter Games to feature a male and female flag bearer for Team USA. Del Duca will be the first U.S. bobsledder to carry the flag since 1956, the last time the Games were held in Cortina. Flag bearers are selected by a vote of Team USA athletes. His selection was described as “quite the surprise” and personally meaningful given his family’s Italian heritage.
Betting Outlook and What Punters Should Consider
Del Duca’s appointment as flag bearer and his recent top-four results strengthen the case for bettors who want exposure to the U.S. two-man sled.
Practical considerations:
- Expect two-man odds to shorten if he’s confirmed as pilot of the top sled; monitor pairings once announced.
- His World Cup fourth-place standing and 2025 world championship results suggest podium upside but not overwhelming favoritism, so top‑4 or podium markets may offer value.
- Watch for late changes or team pairings that could affect chemistry and start times; consider hedging futures with event prop bets for risk management.
Erin Jackson and Team USA Contingent
Erin Jackson, 33, will share flag-bearing duties. Jackson is the first Black woman to win an individual gold in a Winter Olympic sport (500m, 2022) and becomes the eighth speedskater to be named a U.S. flagbearer. The pair were chosen from a 232-athlete Team USA roster headed to Italy.
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Frank Del Duca, from Bethel, Maine, was chosen as the male representative for Team USA.
The Boston Globe
