Hockey legend Eddie Ockenden will become the first Tasmanian-born athlete to carry the Australian flag at an Olympic Games.
The 37-year-old, who holds the record for the most appearances in the national team, will lead the team into the Paris Olympics alongside French-born paddler Jessica Fox.
Ockenden has represented Australia at the past four Olympic Games, winning a silver medal in Tokyo and bronzes in Beijing and London.
He is also the Kookaburras’ all-time appearance record-holder and the first five-time Olympian, following in the footsteps of former coach Ric Charlesworth, who carried the flag in 1988.
“I have watched the opening ceremony at my past Games and felt such pride seeing our flag entering the stadium and leading our teams,” he said.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to now have this honour and experience something with such a strong history and deep meaning.”
“I feel like I’ll be able to take so much positive energy out of this for the Kookaburras and I hope the whole Australian team connect to this energy as well.”
“I’m immensely proud to be representing Australia, Tasmania and my sport.”
Friday’s opening ceremony will be the largest in Olympic history with tens of thousands of spectators watching the six-kilometre boat parade route along the River Seine.
The Hobart-born athlete has scored 78 goals in his record 445 international appearances and is one of six Australians competing at their fifth Olympics in Paris.
He joins basketballers Patty Mills, Lauren Jackson and Joe Ingles, show jumper Edwina Tops-Alexander and diver Melissa Wu in the exclusive club.
Australian Olympic Committee president Ian Chesterman called Ockenden “a proud Tasmanian and great ambassador for Australian sport”.
