Luge athlete chosen as U.S. flagbearer

Five-time Olympian Mark Grimmette has been selected as flag bearer for the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team by fellow members of Team USA. The opening ceremonies are tomorrow night.

Grimmette, 39, of Muskegon, Mich., was notified of his selection by his doubles teammate, Brian Martn.

"I'm still shaking." Grimmette said. "I was incredibly surprised when Brian [Martin] told me, and I'm still trying to process it all. To be the person leading the U.S. Team into the Opening Ceremony is just such a great honor."

Grimmette and Martin are the most successful sled in U.S. luge history., having won silver at the 2002 Olympics and bronze at the 1998 Games.

Grimmette is one of three five-time Olympians on the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team, joining nordic combied skier Todd Lodwick and ski cross athlete Casey Puckett. Grimmette joins Frank Masley (1984) and Cammy Myler (1994) as the third U.S. luge athlete to lead the team.

"The exposure for the sport of luge is great," Grimmette said. "We're a small organization, but a hard-working organization. In the past, we've had Frank Masley and Cammy Myler carry the flag. Now, I'm honored to be representing our sport and this whole U.S. Team."