In short:
Wheelchair racer Madison de Rozario and swimmer Brenden Hall have been honoured as Australia’s flag-bearers for the Paris Paralympic games.
The pair have 12 Paralympic medals between them, five of them gold — and they follow Ryley Batt and Daniela di Toro who were flag-bearers in Tokyo.
What’s next?
De Rozario and Hall will carry the flag at the Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 29.
Track and marathon wheelchair athlete Madison de Rozario and swimmer Brenden Hall will carry the flag for Australia’s Paralympic team at next month’s Opening Ceremony in Paris.
The announcement was made at Admiralty House, in Sydney on Thursday, with Governor-General Sam Mostyn present along with Australian team co-captains Angela Ballard and Curtis McGrath, Paralympics Australia CEO Alison Creagh, and others.
In Tokyo, Australia’s joint flag-bearers were wheelchair rugby player Ryley Batt and wheelchair tennis and table tennis player Daniela di Toro (who will compete at their sixth and eighth Games respectively in Paris).
De Rozario has won six Paralympic medals — two gold, three silver and one bronze — from four games, beginning with Beijing in 2008.
She is coached by Paralympic great Louise Sauvage, who carried the flag for Australia at Athens in 2004, and who lit the cauldron at the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony in 2000.
“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.”
Hall has also won six Paralympic medals — three gold, one silver and two bronze — in a career that started at the same games as de Rozario, 16 years ago.
“I remember being a youngster and watching Brendan Burkett do it [at Sydney 2000],” Hall said.
“That’s when I realised, ‘Hey, I’ve got a shot at something here. Let’s have a go at it.’ It’s an image that’s always been in my mind.
“I’ve always looked up to the athletes that get up there and carry the flag out there for us. 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.
“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.”
Australian team chef de mission Kate McLoughlin chose the two flag-bearers.
“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.”
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