Hilary Knight and Evan Bates will lead the United States into the Closing Ceremony of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after being chosen as Team USA's flagbearers.

The pair hold eight Olympic medals between them, including gold medals at these Games in Italy. Knight, the captain of the U.S. women's hockey team, scored a crucial tying goal late in the gold medal game against Canada to force overtime, allowing Megan Keller to net the golden goal and crown the Americans as Olympic champions for the third time. Knight's score also marked the 15th goal and 33rd point of her Olympic career, setting Team USA records in both categories.

During these Games, Knight also got engaged to U.S. speed skater Brittany Bowe, who served as Team USA flagbearer during the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Knight learned of the honor during a live appearance on TODAY with her U.S. teammates.

Bates is leaving Italy with a pair of medals around his neck. The ice dancer won gold with the United States in the figure skating team event, and secured silver in ice dance alongside wife and skating partner Madison Chock.

Chock delivered the flagbearer news to Bates in front of their U.S. teammates.

“I’m so, so honored to be part of this team. You guys are all so wonderful. And I think I can speak for Evan and myself when I say we are all so proud of everything you guys have accomplished and the people that you are and the people that you’ve become to be here today,” Chock said.

“So it’s my great honor to share this experience with you and now that we’ve had such a wonderful week, I want to present Evan with something. You have been selected as the closing flagbearer,” she said, proceeding to hug Bates as their teammates cheered.

The Closing Ceremony will take place Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET and can be watched live on NBC or streamed on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com.