Matt Wearn and Kaylee McKeown to Carry Australian Flag at Olympic Closing Ceremony

Olympic champions Kaylee McKeown and Matt Wearn have been selected as Australia’s Closing Ceremony Flag Bearers for the Paris 2024 Games.

McKeown successfully defended her individual 100m and 200m backstroke Olympic titles in Paris, becoming Australia’s first four-time individual gold medallist, while Wearn won the men’s dinghy sailing event, the first man to win back-to-back titles in this event in Olympic history.

The pair will lead the Australian delegation, expected to include more than 300 athletes from 29 sports set to attend the Closing Ceremony in Stade de France.

Chef de Mission Anna Meares said it was a combination of performance and character that guided her choice.

“Matt has shown incredible resilience to defend his Olympic title. Understanding the challenges he has overcome to be here in Paris, is a great testament to the athlete and person Matt is. He is very humble, despite making Olympic history as the first man to win the laser class back-to-back.

“Congratulations to Kaylee and Matt, Swimming Australia, Sailing Australia, and the family, friends, teammates and supporters who have helped this pair become the athletes and people they are.”

McKeown was in Croatia with family, enjoying a well earned holiday after her record-setting campaign, when she got the call from Anna Meares.

“I never thought I’d be given this opportunity and will truly remember this for the rest of my life,” McKeown said. “I’m a proud Australian and thrive off representing the green and gold, showing the rest of the world what it means to be a true Aussie!”

“When Anna asked the question I responded “are you serious?” My Mum and Scott were sitting beside me and Mum goes “Wait, what ya kidding”. Everyone was just completely in shock. They were obviously extremely proud.

“There are so many athletes that deserve the same honour and opportunity. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I couldn’t be more thankful.”

Wearn said he too was shocked to receive the call from Chef de Mission Anna Meares.

“I wasn’t expecting to have this honour and I’m just really humbled and excited to represent Australia this way on the biggest stage,” he said.

“What a Games we’ve had, our most ever gold medals. To be able to do this for the wider Australian Olympic Team is really special.”

Wearn’s wife Emma is also in Paris, an Olympic sailor with Belgium.

“We’ve had a few tears in our eyes, we both know what it means to represent our country, and how much of an honour this is. There’s a few tears shed, it’s still sinking in. Emma keeps repeating it, that I’m going to carry the flag, but it doesn’t seem real yet.”

The Closing Ceremony will take place at Stade de France from 9.00pm Sunday 12 August.

Words by the Australian Olympic Committee & Image by Sailing Energy