Australians Kaylee Mckeown and Matt Wearn carried the Australian flag together in the parade of nations at the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the early hours of Monday.
Kaylee McKeown and Matt Wearn have been chosen as flag bearers after both achieved success in their respective disciplines at Paris 2024.
Table of Contents
McKeown successfully defended the Olympic 100m and 200m backstroke titles in Paris, becoming the first Australian to win four individual gold medals.
Wearn, meanwhile, became the first man to win back-to-back gold medals in the men’s event. Rower Jessica Fox, double gold medalist at Paris 2024, also had a precious moment during the closing ceremony.
She was presented as one of the four newly elected members of the IOC Athletes’ Commission. With 18 gold medals, Australia achieved the best Olympic Games in its history, eclipsing the 17 from Athens 2004 and Tokyo 2020.
Australia won 53 medals in total, making it the second most medals in a single edition. His total of 58 medals at Sydney 2000 remains his best to date. After the next edition in Los Angeles, Australia will host the 2032 edition of the Summer Olympics in Brisbane.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games came to an end with a spectacular closing ceremony that celebrated all the athletes and the history of the Games. The ceremony ended with the handover to the organizers of the next Summer Olympic Games.
First, a glittering parade of nations saw athletes from 205 countries parade in front of a packed house at the Stade de France. France, known for its artistic glory, organized an extravagant ceremony to celebrate the biggest festival of the sport, including a musical performance by the French indie band Phoenix.
An art exhibition depicting the history of the Olympic Games was one of the highlights of the closing ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, the Olympic flag was passed by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, to the president of the International Olympic Council (IOC), Thomas Bach, then to the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass.
Hollywood star Tom Cruise marked his presence by descending on the Stade de France. He took the Olympic flag and brought it to Los Angeles, where the five Olympic rings were incorporated into the Hollywood sign.
Four-time gold medalist Michael Johnson and skateboarder Jagger Eaton also participated in the Olympic flag relay. Mountain biker Kate Courtney carried the flag through iconic destinations like the LA Memorial Coliseum and Venice Beach.
At the ceremony in California, the rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers, singers Billie Eilish, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. The French singer Yseult participated in the last part of the day that the Olympics ended with fireworks.
Kaylee Mckeown and Matt Wearn
Kaylee speak for themselves, including becoming the first Australian to win Olympic singles titles. His achievements are remarkable, but it is his personality, character and leadership that make this Australian Olympic team so special.
Knowing the challenges he overcame to get here in Paris is a testament to the athlete and person Matt is. It’s very humbling he, although he made history at the Olympics to be in. Olympics, the first person to win the laser competition twice.
Thank you to Kaylee Mckeown and Matt Wearn, Swimming Australia, Rowing Australia, family, friends, teammates and supporters who have helped the couple become the athletes and people they are. McKeown was in Croatia with his family enjoying a break from his record-breaking career when he got a call from Anna Mears.
When Anna asked me, I said, “Are you serious? Mom and Scott were sitting next to me and Mom said, ‘Wait, you’re kidding me.’ “Everyone was shocked. They were very proud. There are many players who deserve this honor and opportunity.
