Sami Kennedy-Sim announced as Australian flagbearer for Beijing Winter Olympics closing ceremony

Skier Sami Kennedy-Sim has been granted the honour of carrying the Australian flag at the closing ceremony of her third Winter Olympics.

The ceremony in Beijing on Sunday night will mark an end to the most successful ever Winter Games for Australia, finishing with one gold medal, two silvers and a bronze.

Kennedy-Sim, 33, fell short of a medal in her ski cross event but performed impressively to reach the semi-finals.

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She placed eighth in the event, equalling her performance in PyeongChang four years ago.

“I was a bit stunned,” she said of the moment she was told of the honour.

“But what a way to wrap up my third Games.

“While I did come here to better my last performance, it’s another top ten performance at an Olympic Games and I am very proud of that.

“When you think about the history that this team has created, it adds to the magic of these Games to be asked to lead our team.

Australian chef de mission Geoff Lipshut said Kennedy-Sim’s “commitment and professionalism” typified the 2022 team.

“She’s had a wonderful career, reaching top five on World Cup tour events since making her debut in 2008 with a highest world ranking of 11th in 2011-12,” Lipshut said.

“In choosing Sami, I thought about her whole career. She struggled in her first Games in Sochi. She was extremely nervous, but then having two eighth placings in her next two Olympic Games.

“She has been the standard bearer for her sport – and keeping her sport going in our country.

“She has been putting herself out there and training really hard, travelling to all the events and being credible in what is a very tough sport.”

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