Miami's Briadam Herrera chosen as USA flag bearer

University of Miami (Florida) senior diver Briadam Herrera will bear the United States flag during the World University Games opening ceremony Saturday in Taipei, Taiwan.

A four-time All-American and two-time NCAA National Championships runner-up on the 3-meter springboard, Herrera is one of four USA athletes who medaled in the 2015 World University Games and is competing in the 2017 edition.

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“I am very thrilled to have the responsibility of being the flag bearer of the United States in the Opening Ceremony this Universiade,” Herrera said. “It’s such a blessing to be representing this country, and I’m very honored to be the one to carry the flag in front of the U.S. delegation.”

Herrera, who was born in Havana, Cuba, moved to Miami in 2009 and gained citizenship in 2014.

“We are so proud to select Briadam Herrera as our flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony,” said Delise O’Meally, the U.S. Head of Delegation. “Briadam is an outstanding athlete and represents the best of who we are. As an immigrant myself, I understand the uniqueness of his experiences. The strength of a nation is in its people, and our people come from everywhere. We are indeed a nation of immigrants.”

The last 24 hours

Women’s water polo: Stanford junior Madison Berggren scored four goals to power the United States past France, 15-4, in the Americans’ opening match of the World University Games.

Stanford grad Kiley Neushul and Berggren scored two goals each in the first period as the USA jumped to a 5-1 lead and were never threatened in the contest.

Stanford grads Dani Jackovich and Jamie Neushul, UC Irvine’s Mary Brooks and UCLA’s Alys Williams each scored twice for the Americans.

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The United States takes on Argentina next in Group B preliminary round action.

Elsewhere in Group B, Indiana’s Mollie Williams scored a game-high four goals to lead Australia to a 10-3 victory over Greece.

Williams, a sophomore studying nutrition and dietetics, answered Greece’s game-opening goal with a streak of three unanswered starting late in the first quarter. Long Beach State junior Tori Morrissey, who studies international business, added a goal to the total as the Aussies put the match out of reach with a 4-1 third quarter.

San Diego State senior Ioli Benekou scored once for Greece.

Australia next faces Italy while Greece plays France.

The next 24 hours

Opening ceremonies for the 29th World University Games commence Saturday.

More than 7,000 participants from 131 countries, including more than 300 NCAA student-athletes representing more than 70 universities are among delegations that will compete for gold, silver and bronze.

The opening ceremonies and other select events can be watched online at livestream.com/fisu or by downloading the FISU TV mobile app.