TURIN, Italy — Olympic gold medal speedskater Chris Witty will carry the U.S. flag at the opening ceremony of the Turin Games.

The 30-year-old Witty won gold while setting a world record in the 1,000 meters at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. She won silver and bronze medals at the 1998 Nagano Olympics.

Witty, a native of Waukesha, Wis., also was in the Summer Olympics, competing in track cycling at the 2000 Sydney Games — becoming the ninth U.S. athlete to compete in both the Summer and Winter games.

She is expected to compete in the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 in Turin, and is one of the medal favorites in the 1,500.