Lavin and Jegou named as Team Ireland flagbearers

Tokyo Olympians Sarah Lavin and Liam Jegou have been named by the Olympic Federation of Ireland as the Permanent TSB Team Ireland Flagbearers for the European Games in Krakow this month.

The multi-sport Games will see 121 athletes compete across seventeen sports between 20 June and the 2 July, with the Opening Ceremony taking place in the Henryk Reyman Stadium in Krakow on the 21 June.

From Limerick, Olympic 100m Hurdler Lavin will be competing in her second European Games and will be aiming to beat her personal best time of 12.79. This year she has been in exceptional form and will bring her Olympic and European Games experience to the team.

Clareman Jegou has also been performing well this year in the C1 Canoe Slalom, and the European Games debut for this discipline will see eight Team Ireland athletes compete in the Slalom events. The course for Krakow 2023 at the Kolna Sports Centre, is one that is familiar to Jegou and the team, and they have competed on it several times over the past few years.

Speaking on her selection as one of the flagbearers, Lavin said: "It's a complete and utter honour to be asked to be flagbearer, to represent Ireland at any given games, and especially when there are 120 athletes competing at these multi-sport Games.

"The best of Irish talent. To be able to represent them and to carry the Irish flag, that’s a massive honour."

Jegou added: "It’s brilliant, I’m very proud and very excited to fly the flag at the European Games. Team Ireland is such a strong team, you look at all the results from all the athletes, and to fly the flag is such a huge honour.

"I didn’t get to go to the Opening Ceremony for the Games in Tokyo, so it’s going to be a great moment, I look forward to it."