Billie Jean King and Caitlin Cahow were chosen by President Barack Obama to represent the United States at the Sochi Olympics in February , the Los Angeles Times reported.
King and Cahow are two openly gay athletes that will comprise the U.S. delegation; King will be part of both the opening and closing ceremonies, and Cahow will only attend the closing ceremony, the Times reported.
For the first time since 2000, neither the President, Vice President, former President or First Lady will be attending the winter game in Russia, the Times reported.
King is a former top professional tennis player and Cahow is a professional ice hockey player.
During an interview with USA Today, King, who has won 12 Grand Slam singles, said the Sochi Winter Games platform is a great one for gay athletes to speak out against the discriminatory laws.
"Sometimes I think we need a John Carlos moment," King said, referring to track star Carlos and American sprinter Tommie Smith who were both booted from the 1968 Mexico City Olympics for protesting racial discrimination, according to USA Today.
"I think there's watershed moments, benchmarks. I would hope the majority of the athletes would speak out. It's a great platform," King said. "I wish I was 21 again and in the Olympics."
The president's choices can be interpreted as a confirmation on where he stands on Russia's treatment of gays and lesbians currently being criticized in the media, according to the Times.
Russia has passed national laws which ban gay propaganda, though the White House did not address these issues when they made the announcement, the Times reported.
Shin Inouye, a spokesman for the White House, did say the delegation "represents the diversity that is the United States," and added that the president's schedule would prevent him from attending, according to the Times.
