Naomi Osaka called lighting the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony on Friday the "greatest athletic achievement" of her life.
The lighting of the cauldron is one of the most anticipated parts of an Olympic opening ceremony, and the identity of the final torchbearer is usually a heavily guarded secret, which only ramps up the drama.
Because of the transcendent nature of the Olympics, the position is one of the most prestigious in all of sports. From the time Osaka was revealed as the final runner to the moment the cauldron was lit, the world was watching her