Maria Sharapova’s tennis career has brought her many accolades, including three Grand Slam trophies, the number one ranking, and the fame and fortune associated with being the world’s richest female athlete.
But Sharapova will wait at least another four years before receiving the honor of carrying Russia’s flag at the Olympics.
According to Russian tennis head Shamil Tarpishchev, Sharapova offered to be a flag bearer at Beijing, but was turned down.
The rationale was simple; Tarpischev did not want her to be tired before the tournament even began.
“She wanted to be a flag-bearer [on August 8] but I advised against it,” Tarpischev said in comments reported by Reuters.
“I don’t want her to spend three or four hours in hot weather waiting to march in the opening ceremony. We want her to be fresh, not tired, during her matches.”
Sharapova will not be the player holding her nation’s flag during the Opening Ceremonies, but she is expected to be Russia’s top contender for the gold medal.
Svetlana Kuznetsova, former silver medalist Elena Dementieva, and Dinara Safina have also been named to the Russian Olympic team for the singles event.
[...] squad in 2004. In her excitement at being named to the team for Beijing, she even offered to carry the flag for Russia during the Opening [...]