Cross-country skier Jessie Diggins will be US flag bearer in Closing Ceremonies

Jessie Diggins, who with teammate Kikkan Randall captured the first Olympic women's cross-country medal in United States history by winning the team sprint gold, will be the U.S. flag bearer in Sunday's Closing Ceremonies for the PyeongChang Olympics.

Participating in her second Olympics, Diggins, 26, won the gold with a powerful late finishing kick to edge Sweden's Stina Nilsson by 0.19 seconds. She is the first cross-country skier to carry the flag for the U.S. in a Closing Ceremonies. The United States' only other Olympic cross-country medal was won by Bill Koch in the 30-kilometer event in 1976.

[A fairy-tale finish at the Olympics for Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins]

"This is such an incredible honor for me," Diggins said in a statement issued by the U.S. Olympic Committee. "I'm really humbled and moved that the athletes voted for me. It's so inspiring to feel the support and cheering from everyone.

"The coolest thing for me about the Games has been getting to meet other athletes on Team USA, and getting to cheer them on at their events and learn about what they do. I have so much respect and admiration for everybody here and am beyond honored to be able to lead us out of these Games."

Here are the past Closing Ceremonies flag-bearers:

1964: Jean Saubert, Alpine Skiing

1968: Tim Wood, Figure Skating

1972: Barbara Ann Cochran, Alpine Skiing

1976: Sheila Young, Speedskating

1980: Eric Heiden, Speedskating

1984: Phil Mahre, Alpine Skiing

1988: Bonnie Blair, Speedskating

1992: Bonnie Blair, Speedskating

1994: Dan Jansen, Speedskating

1998: Cammi Granato, Ice Hockey

2002: Brian Shimer, Bobsled

2006: Joey Cheek, Speedskating

2010: Bill Demong, Nordic Combined

2014: Julie Chu, Ice Hockey