Grimmette to carry U.S. flag at Olympics

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Luge competitor Mark Grimmette, a two-time Olympic medal winner, was chosen to carry the U.S. flag during opening ceremonies at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Grimmette, 39, won the honor in a vote of the 216 members of the U.S. Olympic team. The 2010 Games open Friday in Vancouver.

Grimmette won a silver medal in the men's doubles luge in 2002 after taking a bronze in the event in 1998. He is listed as the front driver when he teams with Brian Martin for the 2010 Games.

He is one of three U.S. athletes competing in a fifth Olympics Games. Nordic combined skier Todd Lodwick, like Grimmette, made his fifth consecutive U.S. Olympic team and Casey Puckett, who competed in three Olympics as an Alpine skier, is in his second appearance as a freestyle skier.