Paralympic champions Madison de Rozario and Brenden Hall will carry the Australian flag at the opening ceremony in Paris next month.
De Rozario and Hall, who are both set to make their fifth Paralympic appearance, were announced as the team’s flag bearers by Paralympics Australia (PA) chef de mission Kate McLoughlin on a gorgeous, sun-shining afternoon at Admiralty House in Kirribilli on Friday.
For the first time in Paralympic history, an opening ceremony will be staged outside a stadium as Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées host the special occasion, taking place on the night of August 28 (local time).
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De Rozario, a wheelchair racer, and Hall, a swimmer, competed at the Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
De Rozario won gold in the 800m T53 and marathon T54 in Tokyo three years ago.
At London 2012, Hall won gold in the 400m freestyle S9 and was a member of the triumphant 4x100m freestyle team. The Queenslander then successfully defended his 400m freestyle S9 title at the Rio 2016 Games.
De Rozario said she was incredibly honoured to be named a flag bearer.
“I love our Paralympic team because of who we are as athletes. But, also, the personalities that we see come out of it, they are some of the best,” de Rozario said.
“Those post-race interviews, the interviews leading in, the integrity with which our Paralympians approach sport, it’s unlike anything else.
“To get to march out into the stadium representing that team, that’s all I want to do and that’s all we do as individuals, in the green and gold, competing.
“I’ve seen the people who’ve done it before and it feels odd to be in that same space. Right now it feels like it doesn’t quite fit. But maybe when my career’s done it’ll make a bit more sense than it does right now.”
De Rozario’s coach, nine-time Paralympic gold medallist Louise Sauvage, carried the flag into the stadium at the Athens 2004 Games.
De Rozario remembers a great moment from the Beijing opening ceremony four years later.
“We walked out and, I don’t know who it was, but we all started singing Waltzing Matilda. It’s such a profound memory for us,” de Rozario said.
Hall was rapt at being named a flag bearer.
“I’ve always looked up to the athletes that get up there and carry the flag out there for us,” Hall said.
“Not once, in my mind, did I ever think I’d reach that status. To be in amongst such an awe-inspiring legendary status crowd is amazing.
“Hopefully I can do our team proud, our country proud, family and friends … There’s an immense amount of pride being able to represent Australia, so being asked to carry the flag, I’m over the bloody moon.”
De Rozario and Hall were picked by McLoughlin, the Australian team’s chef de mission.
“The Australian Paralympic team is blessed with many leaders, incredible role models and brilliant sportspeople, which certainly made it hard to settle on two athletes to be our flag bearers,” McLoughlin said.
“But that’s just an indication of how highly regarded Brenden and Madi are within and beyond the Australian Paralympic team.
“They have achieved extremely highly in their personal sporting endeavours, they’ve been key members of Australian teams over many years and each has made a big impact in bringing Paralympic sport to the attention of millions of Australians.”
The Paralympics will get under way on August 28 and wrap up on September 8.