Shani Davis: Flag Bearer 'Dishonorably' Chosen By Coin Toss

CHICAGO — A coin toss kept Shani Davis from carrying the flag for the U.S. Olympic team Thursday night, and the Chicagoan and five-time Olympian was not happy about it.

The U.S. Olympic Committee selects who will carry the flag with a vote of eight members of Team USA, one from each of the eight winter sports federations, divided into alpine sports, bobsled and skeleton figure skating, speedskating, curling, biathlon, hockey, luge.

Davis and Erin Hamlin, a four-time Olympian and the first U.S. athlete to win a bronze medal in luge, were the two finalists, the Associated Press reported. A vote Wednesday night was tied at 4-4, so a coin was tossed to determine who would lead the procession of athletes.

"I am an American and when I won the 1000m in 2010 I became the first American to 2-peat in that event," Davis responded on Twitter.

Team USA "dishonorably tossed a coin to decide its 2018 flag bearer," tweeted the winner of four Olympic long track speedskating medals.

"No problem. I can wait until 2022," he wrote, adding a hashtag noting this year's Black History Month.

Davis is the first black athlete to ever win an individual medal at the Winter Olympics. He was also the first man to ever win back-to-back gold medals in the 100 meters and has two silver medals in the 1500 meter.

The U.S. Olympic Committee confirmed the tie to the AP. It pointed out participants were informed ahead of time that a coin toss would be used to resolve a tie.

» 2018 Winter Olympics: Illinois Athletes To Watch

I am an American and when I won the 1000m in 2010 I became the first American to 2-peat in that event. @TeamUSA dishonorably tossed a coin to decide its 2018 flag bearer. No problem. I can wait until 2022. #BlackHistoryMonth2018 #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/dsmTtNkhJs
— Shani Davis (@ShaniDavis) February 8, 2018

Hamlin will be the fourth luger to be selected as U.S. flag bearer, according to the committee.

“Being named to an Olympic Team is an amazing accomplishment, and making four teams and winning the bronze medal is so much more than I could I have imagined I would accomplish. Now being voted flag bearer is a whole new level,” said Hamlin in a statement Thursday.

“Working hard and earning success is one thing, being acknowledged as a great representative and member of Team USA by fellow athletes – many who I have been inspired by – is above and beyond anything I’ve experienced," said the Remsen, New York resident. "It is definitely a privilege and honor to be the one to lead the team and will be a very special moment. I can’t wait to share it with them all!”

Hamlin told the AP she expected carrying the flag to be "way more nerve-wracking" than hurtling down an icy track.

» Read more from the Associated Press, Shani Davis' Team USA Blog posts, NBC Olympics