Harvard Athlete To Carry U.S. Flag at Olympics

Olympic hockey team member and Harvard undergraduate Angela Ruggiero ’02-’04 will be one of eight U.S. athletes to carry an American flag from the World Trade Center at tonight’s opening ceremonies for the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Ruggiero, who is currently on a two-year sabbatical from Harvard to play for the U.S. women’s hockey team, earned her spot in the honor guard through voting by her teammates. One athlete was selected from each of eight Olympic sports.

“This morning, my team leader informed me. I’m kind of beside myself,” Ruggiero said to The Crimson. “At the same time, what that flag represents, it’s just a huge honor.”

The tattered American flag that the eight will bear was found by rescue workers three days after the Sept. 11 attacks. Since being returned to the New York Port Authority, the flag has been flown over center field at the Yankees-Diamondbacks World Series and last Sunday’s Super Bowl.

The U.S. women’s hockey team was deeply affected by the Sept. 11 tragedies. Recent Brown University graduate Kathleen Kauth, a member of the 2001-2002 National Team who was cut in one of the final rounds of selection for the Olympic team, lost her father in the attacks.

Ruggiero was close to the Kauth family and had dinner at their house on ocassion.

“I remember he was so excited when she was named to the [2001-2002 National Team], and I was a part of that,” Ruggiero said. “I consider myself walking in his tribute.”

The Internation Olympic Committee (IOC) initially agreed only to allow the World Trade Center flag to be raised at the opening ceremony, afraid that the proposal to carry the flag in the parade of nations might violate IOC rules against political commentary. A compromise was reached just before midnight Tuesday.

Figure skater Todd Eldredge, another of the eight bearers, said that this particular flag has meaning for more than just Americans.

“It doesn’t represent just the Americans in the World Trade Center, but all the people there, everybody who was involved,” Eldredge said.

The bearers will carry the flag in a special procession after the parade of athletes.

Officials then plan to raise the flag while “The Star-Spangled Banner” is played.

The other athletes selected for the honor guard were Kristina Sabasteanski, a biathlete who serves in the military; skeleton racer Lea Ann Parsley, a firefighter in Ohio; curler Stacy Liapis; luger Mark Grimmette; speedskater Derek Parra; and freestyle skier Chris Klug, who is back in the games after a liver transplant.

Jaime Hagerman ’03, the current captain of the Harvard women’s hockey team, attributed Ruggiero’s selection to her personability.

“She just makes people feel special,” Hagerman said. “For her to be named, it’s not just because she’s an amazing athlete, but also because she’s an amazing person.”

Hagerman said she would be unable to watch the opening ceremonies live because of her team’s game at Dartmouth tonight, but she would probably watch it on tape.

Ruggiero is one of five players with Harvard ties that will be playing women’s hockey in the Olympics. A.J. Mleczko ’97-’99, the 1999 national college player of the year; Julie Chu ’06, who deferred Harvard admission a year to play in the Olympics; and Ruggiero will play for Team USA. Jennifer Botterill ’02-’03, the 2001 women’s hockey World Championship MVP; and Tammy Shewchuk ’00-’01, Harvard’s all-time leading scorer, will play for Team Canada.

“I couldn’t be prouder of those kids,” said Harvard Coach Katey Stone earlier this season. “The kids are great. They have worked so hard to get where they are and I have so much respect for them. And whether they’re wearing a Harvard jersey or they’re wearing a USA or Canada jersey they’re probably the hardest-working kids on the ice because they were here.”

The U.S. plays its first game on Feb. 12 versus Germany. Canada opens on Feb. 11 against Kazakhstan. It is expected that U.S. and Canada will meet in the gold medal game on Feb. 21.

In the meantime, Ruggiero will focus on the task at hand, carrying the flag for an event that will be watched by an estimated three billion people.

“This is something I know I’ll live with for the rest of my life,” Ruggiero said.

—The Associated Press contributed to the reporting of this story.

—Staff writer David R. De Remer can be reached at remer@fas.harvard.edu.