Double Olympic medallist Daniel Wiffen set to carry the Team Ireland flag during the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 games alongside Sligo swimmer Mona McSharry.
The Magheralin man made history when he won a gold medal in the 800m freestyle final last month, ending NI’s lengthy wait for Olympic glory.
The 23-year-old missed out on a second gold medal in the 1500m event when he finished third to claim bronze.
The Team Ireland champion will carry the Irish flag during the official closing ceremony on Sunday night.
“I’m so happy, I think it’s a great privilege to hold the flag, and I’m going to hold it high around the stadium and I really can’t wait; it’s a dream come true for me,” Wiffen said.
He has been chosen for the honour alongside McSharry who won Ireland’s first medal of the 2024 games.
“I was so shocked when they selected me among so many amazing athletes who competed at the Games,” she said.
“I am so excited and grateful for this amazing opportunity to be one of the Flagbearers for Ireland.
“This is a great way to close out an incredible Olympic Games.”
The 23-year-old took bronze in the women’s 100m breaststroke.
Both athletes, who were competing in their second Olympic Games, will jointly carry the Irish tricolour during the event which will take place against the spectacular backdrop of the city.
Swimmer Mona McSharry won bronze
The history makers will proudly lead the Irish delegation into the Stade de France wearing their custom Laura Weber designed Team Ireland suitings.
The colours of the tricolour feature in the green jacket they will wear that was inspired by the tracksuit top Sonia O’Sullivan wore when receiving her medal in Sydney 2000.
The unique strapping detail on the green jacket visually creates a five-point start around the torso, and if the athlete is wearing a medal around their neck it will create a sixth point to the star; an additional flourish to highlight such an achievement.
Team Ireland Chef de Mission for Paris 2024 Gavin Noble said: “It has been an exciting couple of weeks and we will all be very proud to be led into the closing ceremony by Daniel and Mona. This Team Ireland; our centenary team has brought us to new heights, and we are all looking forward to celebrating together, not just in Paris tomorrow night, but when we return to Dublin on Monday.”
The ceremony kicks off in the 80,000 seater stadium at 8pm (BST).
Artistic director Thomas Jolly, who oversaw the unique Opening Ceremony along the River Seine, is at the helm for ceremony which is based on the theme ‘Records’.
It will see the iconic Stade de France transformed into a gigantic concert hall with dancers, performers and circus acrobats performing alongside world famous singers.
Details have been kept under wraps but it has been confirmed that part of the show will take place in the air accompanied by spectacular lighting effects before an official handover to LA 2028.