Demong’s big day: gold in Nordic combined, then named US flagbearer for closing ceremony

Demong named US flagbearer after winning gold

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Nordic Combined gold medalist Billy Demong will be the U.S. flagbearer at the closing ceremony of the Vancouver Olympics.

The U.S. Olympic Committee announced Thursday night that Demong had been selected by fellow American Olympians. Earlier in the day, he won the country’s first gold medal in a Nordic sport. Demong was part of a 1-2 finish for the United States in the large hill competition at Nordic combined.

Demong, who also proposed to his girlfriend Thursday night, called it “a whirlwind of a day.”

Luger Mark Grimmette was the flagbearer at the opening ceremony.