Paltrinieri (Italy), McSharry and Wiffen (Ireland) Named Closing Ceremony Flag Bearers

Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri and Ireland’s Mona McSharry and Daniel Wiffen are the latest swimmers announced to be flag bearers for their respective countries at the closing ceremony for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Paltrinieri won silver in the men’s 1500 freestyle and bronze in the men’s 800 freestyle last week in the pool. He also competed in the open water event this week, finishing 9th. He has now won five total Olympic medals after also winning gold in the men’s 1500 free in Rio and silver in Tokyo in the 800 free and bronze in the open water event in Tokyo as well. The 29 year old was in his 4th Olympics after also competing in the 2012 London Games.

McSharry and Wiffen made history for Ireland. Wiffen won gold in the men’s 800 freestyle, becoming the first man to ever win a medal in swimming for the country. He later went on to win bronze in the men’s 1500 free as well.

McSharry captured bronze in the women’s 100 breast, becoming the first medalist for Ireland since the 1996 Olympic Games. The two were also the second and third Irish swimming medalists ever.

So far, at least six swimmers have now been selected to be flag bearers at Sunday’s closing ceremony.

Swimmers Selected As Closing Ceremony Flag Bearers:

• Katie Ledecky (USA)
• Kaylee McKeown (Australia)
• Leon Marchand (France)
• Gregorio Paltrinieri (Italy)
• Mona McSharry (Ireland)
• Daniel Wiffen (Ireland)

The closing ceremony is scheduled to begin at 9 pm local time in Paris (3 pm EST) on August 11th. It is scheduled to end at midnight local time (6 pm EST).