De Rozario Named as Flag Bearer for Paralympic Team

Two of the Australian Paralympic Team’s most exemplary athletes have been chosen to carry the nation’s flag at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony on August 28.

Track and field star Madison de Rozario, who is a NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship athlete 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.”

Madison de Rozario

De Rozario is coached by National Wheelchair Track and Road Coach 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’.

Hall also evoked a memory.

“I remember being a youngster and watching Brendan Burkett do it [at Sydney 2000],” the three-time gold medallist said.

“That’s when I realised ‘Hey, I’ve got a shot at something here. Let’s have a go at it’. It’s an image that’s always been in my mind.

“I’ve always looked up to the athletes that get up there and carry the flag out there for us. Not once, in my mind, did I ever think I’d reach that status. To be in amongst such an awe-inspiring legendary status crowd is amazing.

“Hopefully I can do our team proud, our country proud, family and friends … There’s an immense amount of pride being able to represent Australia, so being asked to carry the flag, I’m over the bloody moon.”

De Rozario and Hall each made their Paralympic debut as teenagers in Beijing. Within four years, Hall was a three-time medallist at London 2012, including two gold, in the 400m freestyle S9 and the 4x100m freestyle relay 34 points.

Hall made it consecutive gold in the 400m at Rio 2016 and, though at Tokyo 2020 he didn’t add to his total of six Paralympic medals, he earned selection for Paris 2024, where he will equal the swimming team record of five Paralympic Games appearances.

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.

Athletics and swimming have delivered 939 of Australia’s 1205 Paralympic medals – just under 80 percent – dating back to the first Games in Rome in 1960. Not since 2008, has an athlete from either sport been named as a flag bearer.

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.”

Article courtesy of Paralympics Australia