Laura Peel and Brendan Kerry are Australia’s 2022 Olympic flag-bearers

Figure skater Brendan Kerry has spoken after a historic announcement ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Australia has revealed aerial skier Laura Peel and figure skater Brendan Kerry will be the flag-bearers for the Winter Olympic team for Friday’s Opening Ceremony.

It’s the first time a Winter Olympics team has had two flag-bearers and follows in the footsteps of the Summer Games where basketball star Patty Mills and swim legend Cate Campbell led the Aussie contingent into the stadium.

The pair are both at their third Olympic Games although Peel is seen to be a red hot contender, having been a former World Champion.

Sharing the news on social media, Kerry said it was “an incredible honour to lead this year’s Aussie Olympic team with Laura.

“Beyond excited and over the moon!”.

In 2015, Peel became the fourth Australian aerial skier to win a world championship but made history when she took out the 2020-21 world championship gold to become the first Aussie two-time champion.

Peel is in such good former, she even won the final World Cup Olympic Qualification Event in Deer Valley last month by nearly 35 points in a score that would have put her on the podium in the men’s event as well.

Laura Peel is a real medal hope. Images supplied by AOC

Peel told the AOC that the honour was a dream come true.

“It’s really hard to put into words how it feels to be selected as Flag Bearer for this incredible team,” she said. “It’s such an honour and I’m truly grateful and so humbled to be able to lead the team into Opening Ceremony. Honestly, it feels like a dream.

“This honour definitely goes to the top of the list. Growing up I dreamt of being an Olympian and it’s always so special to pull on the green and gold, being a flag-bearer is beyond anything I ever dreamt of. This is such an incredible team.

“Australia has such a rich history in Aerial skiing, I’m so grateful to the athletes who came before me, like Alisa Camplin, Jacqui Cooper, Lydia Lassila, David Morris, they paved the way for us in our sport.”

While Kerry is also at his third Games, he isn’t expected to sit on the podium but has impressed in recent times.

He recently made his personal best score in the short-program free skate in the lead in to the Games and is an eight-time Australian champion.

Brendan Kerry is an eight time Australian Champion. Images supplied by AOC

Kerry said the news left him “absolutely speechless”.

It was the biggest shock and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I am honoured. I honestly thought he was calling me because there was a big problem,” he said.

“Being an Olympian is special. For me, being a Winter Olympian is another level in a finite group. To be a Flag Bearer, now cast with that select group of winter athletes before me, is amazing. I look at it as reflecting all the work, all the struggles – I see it as the acknowledgment of my peers and my country.

“I have been so fortunate in my sport, competing against the best in the world overseas. I now get to share that knowledge and experience with the up and coming athletes back home. I’d like to think that I am paving the way for a new generation.”