African-American Olympic Flag and Torch Bearers

U.S. Flag bearer Rafer Johnson, from Kingsburt, CA, carrying the United States flag as he leads Stars and Stripes, the U.S. Olympic team, out of the Olympic Village to march to the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony of the Rome Summer Olympics, August 25, 1960. Rafer Johnson, world record holder in the Decathlon, was a member of the U.S. track and field Olympic team. He is the first black ever to be named to carry the American flag.

Jim Pringle, AP

Lopez Lomong, flag-bearer of the U.S. Olympic team, marches during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium, August 8, 2008. The stadium is also known as the Bird's Nest.

Dylan Martinez , Reuters

Supermodel Naomi Campbell carries the Olympic torch on August 13, 2004 for the 2004 Olympic Games held in Athens, Greece.

Constantinois Georgopoulos, AtHoc/Getty Images

Torch bearer and entertainer Sean Combs carries the Olympic Flame during Day 15 of the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay on June 19, 2004 in New York, New York, USA. The Olympic Flame traveled to 34 cities in 27 countries en route to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

Todd Warshaw, Getty Images

Coretta Scott King (L), widow of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, passes the Olympic Flame to her son Dexter Scott King on July 19, 1996 in Atlanta. The Kings were part of the relay that has taken the flame around Atlanta before the opening ceremonies later on July 19th.

Michel Gangne, AFP/Getty Images

Boxer Evander Holyfield carries the Olympic flame with Voula Patoulidou of Greece during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games opening ceremonies in Atlanta on Friday, July 19, 1996.

Eric Draper, AP

Dawn Staley, the two-time women's basketball gold medalist, leads the U.S. delegation with the Star & Stripes during the during the opening ceremony of the 2004 Olympic Games on August 13, 2004 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens. US athletes were ordered to be on their best behavior for the opening, wary of possible anti-American sentiment stemming from the conflict in Iraq.

Adrian Dennis, AFP/Getty Images

Former heavyweight boxing champion and 1960 Olympic gold medalist Mohamed Ali lights the flame on July 19, 1996 at the Olympic Stadium in Atlanta during the opening ceremony of the Centennial Olympic Games.

Omar Torres, AFP/Getty Images

Jill Bakken and Vonetta Flowers carry the Olympic Flag into the stadium for the Closing Ceremony of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games at the Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2002.

Brian Bahr, Getty Images

Gail Devers, three-time Olympian, carries the Olympic Flame during the 2004 Olympic Torch Relay in Atlanta, Georgia USA on June 18, 2004.

Brenda J. Turner, WireImage.com

Australia's eventing team members Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks share a hug after receiving their silver medals from Princess Haya, second from left, as Sonja Johnson stands at left, during the medals presentation for the equestrian team Eventing competition during the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

AP

Japan's Yoshiaki Oiwa rides Gorgeous George during show jumping portion of the equestrian Eventing competition during the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

AP

Gina Miles of the Unites States celebrates her silver medal in the equestrian Individual Eventing competition during the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

AP

Great Britain's Kristina Cook celebrates her bronze medal in the equestrian Individual Eventing competition during the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008 with Princess Haya in the foreground. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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British rider Mary King with her horse Call Again Cavalier perfroms at the jumping of the Eventing Individual at the Beijing 2008 Olympics Equestrian in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

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British rider Mary King with her horse Call Again Cavalier perfroms at the jumping of the Eventing Individual at the Beijing 2008 Olympics Equestrian in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

AP

Germany's Hinrich Romeike receives a hug and his gold medal for the individual Eventing competition from Princess Haya during the medals ceremony at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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Gina Miles of the United States rides McKinlaigh during show jumping portion of the equestrian Eventing competition during the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. Miles won a silver medal in the individual Eventing competition. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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Australia's Clayton Fredericks rides Ben Along Time during show jumping portion of the equestrian Eventing competition during the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. The Australian's won a silver medal in the team Eventing competition. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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Empty seats surround fans as they watch the Rainer Schuettler of Germany against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during first round men's singles tennis action at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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