Madison de Rozario announced as Paris 2024 Paralympic Team Flag Bearer

One of Australia's most exemplary athletes, Madison de Rozario, has been chosen to carry the nation’s flag at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony on August 28.

De Rozario and revered swimmer Brenden Hall were selected for the honoured role by Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin.

The announcement was made at a ceremony hosted by the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, at Admiralty House, attended by the Federal Minister for Sport Anika Wells MP, Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins and Australian Paralympic Team co-captains Angela Ballard and Curtis McGrath. Also in attendance were Paralympics Australia President Alison Creagh AM CSC and representatives from several of Paralympics Australia’s partners, member organisations and sporting partners.

De Rozario, the winner of six Paralympic Games medals including two gold at Tokyo 2020, said she was moved by being invited to carry the flag.

“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.” she 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 is coached by Louise Sauvage, who carried the flag into the stadium at Athens 2004. At de Rozario’s first Games four years later, she recalled: “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.”

To get to do that with the team again, she said, would feel like a ‘full circle moment’.

Track and field star de Rozario left her debut Games with a silver medal in the 4x100m T53/54. She won two further medals at the Rio Paralympics and broke through for her maiden Paralympic titles at Tokyo 2020, in the 800m T53 and the marathon T54.

McLoughlin, the Australian team Chef de Mission, said the selection process was difficult, but she was confident Hall and de Rozario would be well received by their peers.

“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 Paris Paralympics is shaping up to be a spectacular event and the Opening Ceremony, at Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées will be truly memorable. I’m so proud of Madi and Brenden for all they’ve done to reach this moment, and I congratulate them on being named as our Australian Paralympic Team flag bearers.”

By Paralympics Australia
Posted: 12/7/2024