Paris 2024: Who will be flag bearer for the closing ceremony? Our experts make their picks
Australia’s record Olympic performance has given chef de mission Anna Meares a major selection head ache for closing ceremony flag bearer. Here our experts make their choice, plus HAVE YOUR SAY.
This is Australia’s greatest ever Olympic team and there is no shortage of nominees to carry the flag for the closing ceremony.
With 18 gold medals, thus far, and many more historic performances, how does chef de mission Anna Meares make the difficult selection of just one or two athletes to lead the triumphant Australian team into the stadium for the closing ceremony at Stade de France.
Our team of reporters in Paris have nominated who they think should be Australia’s flag bearer. Proving just how difficult the task is for Meares, from our 20 reporters we have come up with 11 athletes ranging from 14-year-old skaters to 30-year-old veteran gold medallists and five-time Olympians.
Here’s our picks for closing ceremony flag bearer:
Kaylee McKeown - Swimming (James Magnussen)
The double-double. Winning two gold medals in the same event at back-to-back Olympics is such a rare feat that it’s never been done by an Australian swimmer. McKeown’s 100-200m backstroke double in Tokyo and now Paris is among the finest performances you will ever see.
Kaylee McKeown - Swimmer (Lachlan McKirdy)
The backstroker created history by defending her 100m and 200m titles. She’s just the second swimmer to do an Olympic ‘double-double’ and should be front and centre when the Aussies take to Stade de France.
Emma McKeon - Swimming (Julian Linden)
She would have been at shorter odds than Winx to carry the flag at the last Olympics in Tokyo after winning seven medals but was denied the chance by Covid.
McKeon deserves her chance this time after setting more records in her final Olympics. A perfect role model, there’s no one better deserving than her.
Saya Sakakibara - BMX racing (David Riccio)
Call me biased, having watched one of the finest individual performances of the games unfold, but the BMX racing gold medallist optimised everything that the Olympics stands for: courage, perseverance, inspiring and closer to our heart, true Aussie grit.
Saya Sakakibara - BMX Racing (Jon Ralph)
An incredible story of family setbacks and her own perseverance after that Tokyo crash to deliver a note perfect Paris performance. A rousing back story, then stunning Olympic execution.
Jess Fox - Canoe Slalom (Todd Balym)
She was the captain of the Australian Olympic team who delivered two historic gold medals in canoe slalom and the heart-warming moment of the Games when she jumped into the water to celebrate her sister Noemie’s shock gold medal. Loved by all, she deserves to create more history and become Australia’s first opening and closing ceremony flag bearer.
Cameron McEvoy - Swimming (Emma Greenwood)
Won gold in the 50m freestyle at his fourth Games - the most for a male swimmer. He didn’t win the most medals or burst from the blue but McEvoy is an innovator who is changing his sport forever.
Cameron McEvoy - Swimming (Peter Badel)
What a legend. Who would have expected him to win gold after walking away from the sport. Humble and likeable, no-one in the team would be more deserving.
Arisa Trew - Skateboard Park and Saya Sakakibara - BMX Racing (John Stensholt)
They’re both young, female and in new and exciting sports that have captured the imagination of the Australian sporting public.
They are a breath of fresh air for the Olympic movement too, which has been desperate to attract younger fans.
Arisa Trew - Skateboard Park (Amanda Lulham)
Our true blue little champion. The 14-year-old pocket dynamo who showed no fear, has a smile of pure joy and has inspired a new generation of sports fans to skateboarding and the Olympics
Arisa Trew - Skateboard Park (Will Swanton)
Nobody has more personified the joy ride of these Olympics. Paris has wanted a Games outside the norm. Let’s return the favour. A 14-year-old flagbearer! Wonderfully, beautifully outside the norm.
Arisa Trew - Skateboard Park (Jessica Halloran)
Our little 14-year-old Olympic skateboarding superstar whose presence and achievement signals the Games’ future.
Melissa Wu - Diving (Erin Smith)
She isn’t returning home with a medal this time but her efforts to make five consecutive Olympic finals is inspirational and worthy of an extra round of applause.
Ariarne Titmus - Swimming (Kathryn Bermingham)
For becoming just the second Australian swimmer to defend her Olympic crown and doing it in the face of huge pressure and scrutiny.
Ariarne Titmus - Swimming (Matt Logue)
One of our greatest ever swimmers after winning gold medals in the 400 metre ‘Race of the Century’ in consecutive Olympics.
Matt Glaetzer - Track cycling (Hayden Johnson)
The battler and heart of Australian track cycling. The four-time Olympian has overcome cancer and a calf tear to win bronze in the men’s team sprint at his final Games.
Jemima Montag - Racing Walking (Jackie Epstein)
Didn’t win gold but two bronze medals put the Melbourne walker in elite company. Only the sixth Australian woman and ninth overall to win two medals in athletics at one Olympic Games. Popular and deserving choice.
Nina Kennedy - Pole Vault (Jessica Montague)
In winning the pole vault, Kennedy became the first woman to win a feld event in athletics history.
Her performance was the ultimate lesson in mental toughness and fortitude - she won gold while still recovering from two broken bones in her back. She deserves flag bearing duties for that!
Nina Kennedy - Pole Vault (Robert Craddock)
It’s so rare for Australia to win a track and field gold medal. These are precious moments. Cam McEvoy is my next pick because his triumph encourages people to dare to be different.
More Coverage
Nina Kennedy - Pole Vault (Scott Gullan)
First woman to win a field event gold medal for Australia in Olympic history.
The athletics team never gets a chance to attend the Opening Ceremony so getting one of their most popular stars, who resonates with the younger generation, to carry the flag in the Closing Ceremony ticks a lot of boxes.
Originally published as Paris 2024: Who will be flag bearer for the closing ceremony? Our experts make their picks
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