USA Opens Deaflympics With Flag Bearer Honors, Soccer Games

U.S. Deaf Basketball athlete and USA flag bearer Jon Mowl, and his teammates celebrate during the Opening Ceremony at the 25th Summer Deaflympics on November 15, 2025, in Tokyo, Japan. (Hugh Carey, USADSF)

TOKYO — USADSF launched the 2025 Deaflympics with a day marked by tradition, competition and ear

ly success, beginning with the announcement of Sydney Andrews and Jon Mowl as this year’s flag bearers and highlighted by a dominant win from the U.S. Soccer’s Women’s Deaf National Team (USDWNT).

Andrews, selected as the women’s flag bearer, is competing in her third Deaflympics. A defender for the U.S. Deaf Women’s National Team since 2011, she has earned multiple gold medals, including at the 2012, 2016, and 2023 World Deaf Football Championships, and the 2013 and 2021 Deaflympics. She also was recognized as the 2024 U.S. Soccer’s Female Deaf Player of the Year. 

Mowl, who participated in the 2009 Deaflympics, 2013 Deaflympics, 2018 World Championships, and 2022 Deaflympics in basketball, handball, golf, and basketball respectively, carried the U.S. flag for 174 athletes during the Opening Ceremony at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. “It’s a huge honor to be the flag bearer. Reflecting on the USA flagbearers of the past Deaflympics, I remember vividly the impact they had on me as an athlete and how they set the tone for the rest of the U.S. delegation.”

Andrews and Mowl were also honored as the November 15th Athletes of the Day for USADSF. National Sport Organization (NSO) leaders vote each day of the Deaflympics to select one male and one female athlete for the honor.

On the field in Fukushima, the U.S. Deaf Women’s National Team delivered a commanding 5–0 win over Japan, powered by two goals from Mia White and additional goals from Sydney Andrews, Emily Spreeman and Tia LaBrecque. Andrews’ goal added to her strong performance as she continues to anchor the U.S. defense.

Earlier in the day, the U.S. Orienteering Team competed under the golden canopy of centuries-old ginkgo trees at Hibiya Park. Tom Wells placed 21st and Keith Doane finished 23rd out of 33 competitors, while Lisa Fisher took 14th, Sachiko Flores 15th and Shanna Sorrells 16th out of 24. On Nov. 14, the men’s soccer team lost to Ukraine 1-5 in group play.

Team USA continues competition throughout the week as athletes across sports look to build momentum in Tokyo.