Much-loved champions Jess Fox and Eddie Ockenden will carry the Australian flag at the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics on Saturday morning (AEST).
Chef de mission Anna Meares officially confirmed Australia’s flag bearers for the event on the River Seine to massive applause at a function in Paris on Wednesday.
The pair will continue the new tradition of a male and female sharing the duties, just as Patty Mills and Cate Campbell did in Tokyo three years ago.
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Meares also revealed she told Fox two months ago so she could break the news in person.
“Even though I’ve known a little while, it’s really hit me today … all the emotions came up,” Fox said.
“It is probably the greatest moment of my career … just visualise us, leading our team down the Seine.”
Fox’s parents Richard and Myriam – also her coach – were in the room, having dodged camera crews outside before the function to maintain the secret.
Champion paddler Fox has the chance to become only the second Australian in history to win three individual gold medals in Paris.
The 30-year-old, who won gold in the C1 event in Tokyo, will be the hot favourite to defend her title, while she is also competing in the K1 and kayak cross events.
The only other Australian to win three golds at one Games was swimmer Shane Gould back in 1972.
‘A huge honour’
History-making Kookaburra Ockenden, who will become the first Australian hockey player to play five Games, will join Fox in carrying the flag. He also carried the flag at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham two years ago.
“This really means a lot to me … if I get emotional, it’s because of gratitude, so thank you,” Ockenden said.
“I feel special, to represent Tasmania. It’s something that I’ve always felt a real connection to and if I could even say to kids in Tassie – dream big and chase your dreams, sport or otherwise.
“It doesn’t feel real yet … it’s a huge honour.
“I never thought this was something that could be a possibility.”
Meares rang Ockenden on July 1 to say that she wanted him to carry the flag – the same day the Australian Olympic hockey teams were announced. The modest striker was struck dumb by the proposal.
“He went quiet when I offered it to him … I was like, ‘Ed?’,” Meares said with a broad grin.
The modest Tasmanian has already amassed more than 400 Tests and could finish his career as the most-capped Australian in any sport.
Olympic gold has eluded him, silver in a shootout loss in Tokyo not deterring the 37-year-old from pushing on to Paris.
Ockenden was thrust into the squad two years after the Kookaburra’s lone Games gold in Athens, 20 years ago.
A hero of that night, Jamie Dwyer enjoyed a long career crossover with Ockenden.
“I roomed with him when we lost in 2012. We went for a walk and both of us were pretty devastated to lose the semi … and that was 12 years ago,” Dwyer told AAP.
“To stay mentally involved it’s pretty hard with three kids, a Dutch partner, no family in Perth (where the Kookaburras are based).
“It’s so hard to find a balance: train, put in the effort. Do you stick around with the boys or go home and take the kids to school?
“If you’re in AFL or cricket you’re earning millions of dollars as one of the best players, and in AFL you’re not even leaving the country.
“More than anyone he deserves it (a gold medal).”
The opening ceremony will be like none other in history with boats for each country to take athletes down the Seine river.
Australian Paralympic veterans Madison de Rozario and Brenden Hall had earlier been announced as flag bearers for the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games on August 28.
– With AAP