Snowboard Cross silver medallist Jarryd Hughes will carry the flag and lead the 2018 Australian Olympic Team into the PyeongChang Closing Ceremony. It is expected 31, of the 51 Australian athletes who competed at the games, will march.
“I am so excited to be chosen to be the Flagbearer for the Closing Ceremony, it’s hard to put into words,” Hughes said.
“It is the cherry on top of what has been the most amazing Olympic campaign and I am so proud to lead out this group of Australian athletes who have all been both an inspiration to me and the entire country throughout the Games.”
“The Closing Ceremony will be an awesome celebration of the hard work and dedication we’ve all put in over the past four years. To be able to lead my teammates is incredible.”
Hughes claimed his first Olympic medal, a silver at Phoenix Snow Park on Day 6 of the Games, with France’s Pierre Vauliter claiming gold and Regino Hernandez securing bronze for Spain.
After finishing 17th in his Olympic debut at Sochi 2014, Hughes went on to claim a gold medal at the 2016 X-Games and now has his greatest achievement to date.
Joining Hughes on the Olympic podium was Matt Graham who claimed a silver medal in the men’s moguls, as well as Opening Ceremony flag bearer, Scotty James who secured bronze in the men’s snowboard halfpipe. Both men have returned home to Australia since competing.
The Australian contingent will be one of the 91 nations marching into the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Stadium on Sunday night (AEDT), concluding what has been an exciting action-packed Winter Olympic Games.
