Team GB has announced a history-making decision for the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, with Tom Daley and Helen Glover named as joint flag bearers. This is the first time the British team has chosen a duo for this prestigious honour.
Daley and Glover: A Combined Legacy of Olympic Excellence
Daley, a 30-year-old diving champion, currently holds the title of defending champion in the men’s 10m synchronised diving event. He has a total of four Olympic medals to his name, including the gold he secured alongside Matty Lee in Tokyo 2020.
Glover, a 38-year-old rowing legend, boasts a remarkable record of two consecutive gold medals in the coxless pairs at both the London and Rio Olympics. After a brief retirement, she made a triumphant return in 2021, setting her sights on adding to her medal tally in Paris.
Emotional Responses from Daley and Glover
Daley expressed his deep emotions upon receiving the news. He shared how his late father, Robert, who passed away from cancer just a year before his son’s first Olympic medal in 2012, would have been incredibly proud. “He always considered flag bearers to be Olympic icons and legends,” Daley said.
The gold medal victory in Tokyo alongside Matty Lee has empowered Daley to approach the Paris Games with a different mindset. “This Olympics has all been about enjoying it and soaking it in,” he stated.
Glover, who will be competing in the women’s four in Paris, described the news as “probably the biggest honour of my life.” She expressed her unwavering love for the Olympics and its values. “I still pinch myself that I am an Olympian, let alone doing something that I see as going down in history.”
Breaking New Ground
Daley’s selection marks another first, as he becomes the first diver ever to have the privilege of carrying the Team GB flag at the opening ceremony. For Glover, it’s a continuation of the trend set by rower Moe Sbihi in Tokyo 2020, where he served as the sole flag bearer.
The official announcement took place at the British Ambassador’s residence in Paris, with Princess Anne, president of the British Olympic Association, present for the occasion.
This joint flag-bearing ceremony signifies Team GB’s celebration of both individual achievements and teamwork. Daley and Glover’s combined experience and dedication to their respective sports make them powerful symbols for the British Olympic contingent as they prepare to compete in Paris.
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