Joanna Guelas, AAP
Wheelchair racer Madison de Rozario and swimmer Brenden Hall will be Australia’s flagbearers at the opening ceremony of the Paris Paralympic Games.
The duo were announced in their roles by Australian chef de mission Kate McLoughlin as they both prepare to compete at their fifth Games.
It was an emotional moment for both athletes, having made their Paralympics debuts together at the 2008 Beijing Games.
“To go from kids in these big teams to getting to hold the flag, it’s absolutely surreal,” De Rozario said.
“We were both so young in Beijing. I was 14 and Brendan was 15 and I feel like this is our family.
“I couldn’t think of anyone better that I get to do it with because we’ve grown up in this sport together.
“Throughout my career, I’ve spent so much time thinking about what the sport has done for me and what this Australian Paralympic team has done for me.
“…. You do get to realise that you also have an impact back and that’s one of the most beautiful things.”
Leaving her debut Games with a silver medal in the 4x100m T53/54 category, track star de Rozario went on to win two more medals at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and broke through for her maiden Paralympic titles at Tokyo 2021, in the 800m T53 and the marathon T54.
Hall took home two gold medals at the 2012 London Games in the 400m freestyle S9 and the 4x100m freestyle relay 34 points, before doing it again in the 400m at Rio 2016.
The three-time gold medallist will equal the swimming team record of five Paralympic Games appearances when he takes to the pool in Paris.
“I was not expecting this at all. I’m still kind of taking it in, my mind is going 100 miles an hour,” Hall said.
“We started in Beijing pretty much like rookies just doing our thing, having fun. I’m pretty sure I spent as much time in the games room and the computer room as I did at the pool.”
“When an opportunity like this is going to come around, it’s probably only ever come around less than once in a lifetime, so there was no way I was going to say no,” add Hall.
“I’m not really looking forward to regretting things after I finish my career.”
De Rozario and Hall will lead the team in the opening ceremony on August 28 at Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées.
