And bobbista con Sicilian roots a Palermo e Neapolitan will lead the Team USA at the opening ceremony from the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. Frank Del Duca, 33enne Italian Americanwas elected flag bearer together with the skater African American Erin Jacksonin a vote by US athletes. Its Sicilian originslinked to lineage DePrimomake it a symbol perfect for Home games.
Of the Dukeborn in Maine and to second Olympics After Beijing 2022is a member of World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) dell’US Army. Father of two children, he has a background in soccer, athletics, alpine skiing e baseball. But it’s his Sicilian blood to steal the show: i paternal grandparents they came from I launch e Napoliwith strong ties to Palermo through family DePrimo. I maternal grandparents D’Alessio they came from Napoli via Ellis Islandbuilding the American dream among Brooklyn and the New Jersey.
“There is a lot of pride in being Italian American, especially Sicilian“said Del Duca. “We carry on names, traditions and lessons. My relatives from Palermo and Naples have struggled as immigrants, and their perseverance inspires me. Bobsleigh is always followed by questions about the ‘Italians’, and now with the Olympics in Italy it’s a double honor.
Frank is 34 years old and started winter sports as a youth, becoming a Maine state champion in alpine slalom skiing in high school. After college at the University of Maine (where he excelled at track and the long jump), he entered bobsleigh in 2015 as a push athlete, later transitioning to pilot. He made his debut at the 2022 Beijing Olympics (in twos and fours), placing well at the 2025 World Championships in Lake Placid (4th place in both twos and fours). A sergeant in the US Army is the father of two children.
