There are also many extra demands placed on the flag-bearer that potentially take away from the preparation (for competition) and which can be a distraction. A number of athletes choose not to take on that added responsibility because they believe their first responsibility is to perform at their absolute maximum.

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The opening ceremonies are a tiring enough process. If you add all the demands of being flag-bearer and with a relatively heavy racing schedule, taking on that extra task is, as they've correctly evaluated, too great a load.

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Heading into Turin our athletes are legitimate medals contenders for five to seven medals. That puts us on pace to achieve or surpass our best-ever medal total in long track at the Games.

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