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Posted: 2024-07-24 10:11:53

In short:

Jess Fox and Eddie Ockenden will carry Australia's flag at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

Fox is competing in her fourth Olympics and Ockenden will be appearing at the Games for the fifth time.

What's Next?

The opening ceremony will be held on Saturday morning, Australian time.

Slalom canoeist Jess Fox and hockey player Eddie Ockenden have been selected as Australia's flag-bearers for the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

The opening ceremony, featuring the parade of athletes, will be held on the Seine on Saturday morning, Australian time.

ABC Sport will be live blogging every day of the Paris Olympics from July 27

Fox will be competing at her fourth Olympics, having made her debut as an 18-year-old at the 2012 London Games.

She won silver in the women's K1 canoe slalom in London and has since added three more medals to her tally, including a gold in the C1 event at the Tokyo Olympics.

Jess Fox with her Olympic gold at the Tokyo Olympics.

Fox won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in the canoe slalom C1 event.(Getty Images: Harry How)

Ockenden, who will become the first Tasmanian to carry Australia's flag at an opening ceremony, is appearing at his fifth Olympics.

He helped the Kookaburras win bronze in the men's hockey at the 2008 and 2012 Games, and was a member of the squad that claimed silver in Tokyo.

Fox, who was born in Marseille before moving with her family to Australia when she was four, said she was overwhelmed to be asked to carry the flag.

"It's probably the greatest moment of my career," Fox said.

"Obviously that French connection is very strong and it's such a wonderful, special, unique moment to be able to bring my two cultures together: the French, the Australian.

"To lead us out and present us to Paris, present us to the world … visualising those incredible moments over the next two weeks that will happen, just gives me goosebumps."

Fox will be the second canoeist to carry the Australian flag after Dennis Green was given the honour at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

She is joined by her sister and fellow canoeist, Noemie, in the Australian squad.

Their mother Myriam twice represented France at the Olympics, winning bronze in the canoe slalom K1 event at the Atlanta Olympics (1996), while father Richard is a British Olympian (1992).

'So much gratitude'

Eddie Ockenden playing for the Kookaburras.

Ockenden will be appearing in his fifth Olympics at the Paris Games.(AAP: Richard Wainwright)

Ockenden, 37, said he was humbled to be sharing the honour with Fox.

"It's really, really hard to sort of describe how it feels," Ockenden said.

"The only thing I can think of is I'm just filled with so much gratitude. I can't believe that I'm here honestly."

Ockenden will become the first Australian hockey player to compete in five Olympics.

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