Siobhan Haughey and Six Others Chosen as Flag Bearers at Olympic Parade of Nations Ceremony

by Amy Padilla

Olympic medalist Siobhan Haughey will represent Hong Kong as the flag bearer for her country at the Parade of Nations Ceremony in Paris at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Haughey, along with seven other swimmers, have been named flag bearers for their respective countries. This now brings our flag bearer totals to 20, with the eight new swimmers added to the previous list of 12. Carrying the flag around the stadium is a great honor, with the athletes being chosen by the team’s National Olympic Committee or voted on by fellow team members.

Each country can choose one male and one female flag bearer for the ceremony, but some countries select just one swimmer who is either the most well-known athlete or the athlete expected to perform the best at the Olympics.

Haughey was the first Hong Kong swimmer to claim an Olympic medal as well as the first Hong Kong athlete to win two Olympic medals in any sport. At the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, she won silver in the 200 free and 100 free. Haughey became Hong Kong’s most recognized athlete of all time after she attained two golds, one silver, and three bronze medals at the 2022 Asian Games.

Haughey recently dominated in the 200 free at the World Aquatics Championships with a time of 1:54.89. She also finished second in the 100 free at 52.56 and third in the 100 breast in 1:05.92. Haughey qualified for an impressive five events at the upcoming Olympics in Paris, including the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 400 free and the 100 breast.

2024 Paris Olympic Flag Bearers (Eight New Swimmers Added to Previous 12 Mentioned)

Barbados – Jack Kirby is a USC Trojan swimmer whose specialty includes freestyle and backstroke. He was the first CARIFTA Junior PAN American bronze medalist in the 100 back as well as the national record holder in the 50 and 100 back. Kirby will race in Paris in the 100 free.

South Korea – Kim Seo-yeong is an Olympic swimmer who competed in the 400 IM at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the 200 IM at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, and the 200 IM and 200 free relay 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.  She will compete at this year’s Paris Olympics in the 200 IM.

Jamaica – Josh Kirlew is a freestyle and butterfly sprinter who recently set personal bests at the AP Race London International earlier this year. Kirlew raced the 100 fly at the Sette Colli, and the 50 fly at the World Aquatics Championships. Kirlew will swim the 100 fly in Paris and represent Jamaica.

Malta – Sasha Gatt – is a freestyle distance Olympic swimmer who competed in the 400 and 1500 free at the 2020 Olympics, and the 1500 free at the 2020 European Aquatics Championships in Budapest. Gatt was just 15 when she qualified for her first Olympics in December of 2020 where she was one of the youngest athletes to compete for Malta. She will race in the 1500 free at this year’s Olympics.

Federated States of Micronesia – Tasi Limtiaco and Kestra Kihleng were both chosen to bear the flag for their country. Limtiaco swam in the 200 IM at the 2020 Olympics, and Kihleng has set national records in the 50 free, 50 fly, 200 IM, 50 breast, and 100 IM. Limtiaco qualified for the Games in the 100 breast after winning three golds at the 2023 Pacific Games. Kihleng is set to swim the 50 free in Paris.

Seychelles – Dylan Sicobo and Khema Elizabeth were selected to bear the flag. Sicobo competed in the 200 fly at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and Elizabeth swim in the 50 free in Tokyo. No Seychelles athletes qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.