LAURA Kenny has been named Team GB’s flagbearer for the Closing Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Kenny was given the honour after completing her programme today, and confirming her place as Team GB’s most successful ever female Olympian*, which included an incredible gold medal winning ride with Katie Archibald in the Madison.

The Closing Ceremony will take place at the Olympic Stadium to bring the curtains down on a remarkable 17 days of competition which have seen Team GB amass 65 medals, with Lauren Price finishing Team GB's campaign with boxing middle weight gold.

 

Team GB has once again enjoyed medal success across a variety of sports with 108 athletes** stepping on to the podium in Tokyo from 18 different sports.

The nation’s attention was particularly captivated by BMX and Mixed Triathlon Relay success, as well as the debut for sports such as skateboarding in which Team GB’s youngest ever Summer Olympian, Sky Brown, scooped bronze.

There was also history made on the final day as Jason Kenny became Team GB’s most successful ever Olympian winning a remarkable breakaway Keirin gold to take his tally to seven gold and two silver medals, eclipsing both Chris Hoy’s gold medal tally and Bradley Wiggins’ overall medal tally.

A hugely successful Games, which have been delivered against the backdrop of a global pandemic have provided numerous inspiring and joyful stories of determination, hope and excellence, not just for audiences in the UK but around the world as well.

Nowhere are these performances better encapsulated than with Team GB’s most decorated female athlete, Laura Kenny, who has amassed five gold medals across three Olympic Games, as well as one silver medal.

Laura Kenny was nominated following a decision by a British Olympic Association panel headed by Team GB Tokyo 2020 Chef de Mission, Mark England, and will carry the Union Flag into the national stadium this evening.

The 29-year-old first made her Olympic debut at London 2012, winning gold in the team pursuit and omnium, before defending those titles four years later at Rio 2016.

Team GB’s most successful female athlete and Closing Ceremony flagbearer, Laura Kenny, said: “It’s an absolute honour to be selected as the Team GB flagbearer for the Tokyo 2020 Closing Ceremony, and it rounds off my Games experience.

“The past 18 months have been tough for everyone, and I really hope me and my Team GB teammates have given the nation something to celebrate.

“It hasn’t quite sunk in that I am now Britain’s most successful female athlete, all I know is that I’ve worked so hard to be here and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family, friends and everyone at British Cycling.”

Team GB Chef de Mission, Mark England, said: “In a Games in which we’ve celebrated having more women than men competing at a Summer Games for the first time in our history, it gives me huge pride to confirm Laura Kenny, our greatest ever female Olympian, as flagbearer for the Closing Ceremony.

“Laura has been at the centre of a sport that has enjoyed incredible Olympic success, which has helped drive the interest and participation of cycling throughout the UK. She has also truly embodied the values and spirit of Team GB during her time as an Olympian to date.

“To have remained at such a high level for so long is testament to Laura’s skill, character and determination and it’s a great personal privilege to bestow this honour on Laura today.”

NOTES:

*Laura Kenny and Charlotte Dujardin both sit on six medals but Kenny has five golds and one silver, with Dujardin on three golds, one silver and two bronze.

** 111 athletes including relay heat swimmers Calum Jarvis, James Wilby and Freya Anderson who received medals after the podium moment