Jessica Fox says it will be the highlight of her glittering career when she and Eddie Ockenden carry the Australian flag at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
The announcement of the two flag bearers was made on Wednesday at the River Seine, two days before the Games start with an unprecedented parade of barges along the famous Parisian waterway.
“It is probably the greatest moment of my career … just visualise us, leading our team down the Seine,” Fox said.
The packed room erupted in applause when first-time Australia team chef de mission Anna Meares, herself the flag bearer at the 2016 Olympics, bestowed the honour on Fox and Ockenden.
“I know this might be overwhelming for them, but I don’t think it’s going to change them … I’m just going to get this out of my head,” Meares said.
While the announcement had been kept under wraps, it was no surprise, with Fox and Ockenden the obvious choices given their outstanding sporting careers.
French-born Fox, 30, is chasing three gold medals in canoe and kayak slalom events at her fourth Games and is one of the biggest names competing at the Paris Olympics.
“That French connection is very strong and it’s such a wonderful, special moment to be able to bring my two cultures together,” she said.
Ockenden, one of hockey’s all-time greats, is the first Tasmanian to have the honour.
Fox will defend her Olympic title in the C1 and be among the favourites in the K1 and the canoe slalom, a new event at the Games.
Fox’s younger sister Noemie is making her Olympic debut in the canoe slalom.
Ockenden, 37, is competing at his fifth Olympics with the Kookaburras and is a three-time hockey Games medallist.
The modest striker has already amassed more than 400 Tests and could finish his career as the most-capped Australian in any sport.
Olympic gold has eluded him, with silver in a shootout loss in Tokyo not deterring the 37-year-old from pushing on to Paris.
“This really means a lot to me … if I get emotional, it’s because of gratitude, so thank you,” Ockenden said.
The announcement was made at the Monnaie de Paris, where the Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals were made.
