“In my Olympic memories, I have flashpoints of thinking about the flagbearer. I remember them, I recognise them. It’s that moment that’s consistent with each Games.”
These are the words of Helen Glover, who was chosen as Flagbearer for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, alongside Tom Daley.
Carrying the flag is the highest honour that Team GB can bestow and the list of athletes who have got the privilege over the years is a who’s who of trailblazers and history-makers.
Tokyo 2020
Moe Sbihi, the son of a Moroccan immigrant father, became the first Muslim athlete to lead Team GB into the Olympic stadium. Sbihi won gold at Rio 2016 and retired after taking bronze in Japan.
“We need more representation and hopefully this starts that process of getting young Muslim kids involved in all types of sport,” he said.
Sbihi shared carrying duties with Hannah Mills, towering over the sailor who would become the most decorated female athlete in her sport’s history with a second Olympic gold 10 days later.
Rio 2016
One of Britain’s greatest-ever athletes, Andy Murray added another honour to his glittering CV by carrying our flag into the Maracana.
Murray went on to become the first tennis player to win two Olympic singles golds and has announced he will retire at the end of his involvement in Paris.
London 2012
Leading the home team into the Olympic Stadium, last in the Parade of Nations, was quite a way for Sir Chris Hoy to mark his first-ever attendance at the Opening Ceremony.
The inspirational Scot was voted into the role of Flagbearer by fellow athletes by an overwhelming margin
“Leading out your team at an Olympic Games is the stuff of dreams but when it's a home Olympics it's even more special,” he said.
Sydney 2000
Matthew Pinsent was a pioneer of the ‘straight arm’ method, insisting on carrying the flag ramrod straight.
Pinsent admitted that he nearly got injured in the process but it didn’t affect his ability to win a second of four Olympic golds with Steve Redgrave in the pair.
Atlanta 1996
Only two athletes have ever carried our Opening Ceremony flag twice.
The first was Redgrave, who bore the flag at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996, going on to win Team GB’s only gold medal of the latter Games.
The second athlete to do so was biathlete Mike Dixon in 1998 and 2002.
Tokyo 1964
Anita Lonsbrough was Team GB’s first female Flagbearer at the Summer Olympics.
A household name and trailblazer, the swimmer won 200m breaststroke gold at Rome 1960 and became the first woman to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1962.
London 1908
In a quirk of history, cricketer, businessman and Lord Mayor of London Kynaston Studd was the first British athlete to carry the flag at the Opening Ceremony.
Cricket was only played at Paris 1900, so Kynaston did not actually compete in 1908.
Sportsbeat 2024