Coco Gauff says there’s another sport she could have become an Olympic athlete in and shares what Noah Lyles told her

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Coco Gauff named a sport that she could have competed in at the Olympics other than tennis.

The 20-year–old enjoyed a career-first in 2024 when she became an Olympian for the first time in her career.

The honour of Gauff being the USA’s co-flag bearer alongside LeBron James made the experience extra special for the World number two.

But in the week following the conclusion of the Paris Olympics tennis event, Gauff shared that she has a talent for another sport that she could have competed in at an Olympic level.

What other sport did Coco Gauff say she could have played at the Olympic Games?

Coco Gauff is a supremely talented tennis player and is the reigning US Open champion. She possesses a lethal backhand and is one of the best defenders and movers on the WTA Tour.

But she also has great talent for track and field, which she took part in while she was at school. She also shared that US 100m Olympic champion Noah Lyles also said he pictured her as a track athlete.

“I don’t know if I would have been as good as I was in tennis in track but I strongly feel like if I would have trained I could have been an Olympian,” she told reporters at the Canadian Open.

“Track is the only sport I would say that in because I did do well in middle school, never training. I didn’t go to one track practice and I won all my races except two and both were against the same girl and she was in eighth grade.

“My Mom ran track too at Florida State. I think 400 metres would have been my race. Noah Lyles said he saw me as a 400 hurdler. But I’m kind of scared of hurdles, so I don’t think I would have been like that! But I do think 400 or longer would have been my thing.”

Coco Gauff wants to play at 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles after debut in Paris

Despite failing to win a medal, Gauff thoroughly enjoyed her time at the 2024 Olympics. She plans to be at the next Olympics which will take place in Los Angeles, California in 2028, in front of her home fans in America.

“I would still do all three (events) again if that’s a possibility in ‘28,” said Gauff, who will be 24 at the 2028 Olympic Games.

“I mean it’s four years from now, I’ll be 24, so will still be on the healthier and younger side of things, and especially if the draw size for mixed is that small, I feel like that’s one everyone wants to play.

“I had a great experience, from not being able to go to Tokyo to being able to go here, I just feel like LA, I’ll hopefully be on the podium. I just feel like that’s what my life consists of, having a disappointing result and then the next time is the best thing in the world.”