Parker, Pollard to carry flag in Paralympics closing
Joanna Guelas |
Two-time Paralympic gold medallist Lauren Parker has been named Australia’s closing-ceremony flag-bearer alongside captain Sean Pollard at the Milan-Cortina Games.
Para-biathlon and cross-country skier Parker will become the first Australian to carry the flag at both summer and winter Games, just two years after she was given the same honour at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
A gold medallist in para-triathlon and para-cycling, Parker will look to finish off her first winter campaign with an unlikely podium finish in the women’s 20km cross-country sitting event on Sunday (local time).
The 37-year-old will then have to make a nearly three-hour trek from Tesero to fly the flag with snowboarder Pollard at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.
Nearing the end of nine days of competition, Australia have just two medals after four-time Paralympian and opening-ceremony flag-bearer Ben Tudhope won SB-LL2 snowboard cross silver and banked slalom bronze.
The ultra-competitive Parker has endured a tough welcome to the Nordic sports, finishing eighth in the women’s cross-country 10km event for her best result so far.
Parker, who is paraplegic, is competing in her first winter Paralympics, and was named flag-bearer just nine months after first taking on biathlon and cross-country.
“Lauren’s amazing, to make the crossover like she has,” team captain Pollard said.
“She’s done quite well in the events as well, coming into winter. She’s obviously an incredible athlete, honoured to share it with her.”
The pair were selected by team chef de mission Ben Troy, with Pollard flying the flag after sitting out of the 2022 Beijing Games to remain with his family because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Pollard, the self-styled “fastest no-handed man on the planet”, finished ninth in the SB-UL snowboard cross and 12th in the banked slalom.
The 34-year-old was competing at his second Paralympics, nearly 12 years since losing his left arm and right hand after being attacked by two sharks while surfing in WA.
Pollard and Parker take over flag-bearing duties from Tudhope and Georgia Gunew.
“I hadn’t given it any thought at all. I’m really surprised and stoked,” Pollard said.
“I’ve loved it (being captain) actually. Everyone’s been calling me ‘cap’ and showing me respect, so that’s been good.
“It’s been a good way for me. It didn’t really put pressure on me, but it made me really want to put my best foot forward and lead from the front.
“I feel like I’ve done that.”
AAP