Marchand and Ledecky to Shine as Flag Bearers at Paris Olympics Closing

Olympic athletes will bid farewell to the Paris Games in a closing ceremony at France's national stadium on Sunday night. Léon Marchand, who has won four gold medals, will carry the French flag. Katie Ledecky and rower Nick Mead will carry the U.S. flag.

Anticipation for the Closing Ceremony

Director Thomas Jolly is expected to bring a spectacular end to the Games at Stade de France. The grandiose opening ceremony on the Seine river set high expectations. Athletes paraded on boats, celebrating inclusivity and generating global headlines.

The closing ceremony will feature an athletes' parade and the handover of the Olympic flag to Los Angeles, the host of the 2028 Summer Games. Organizers have planned a performance with over 100 acrobats, dancers, and circus artists on a massive stage.

Flag Bearers for the Closing Ceremony

Many nations wait until the last day of competition to confirm their flag bearers. With 14 medals still to be decided on Sunday, here are some of those scheduled to take part:

France: Léon Marchand, a swimming sensation, will carry the flag alongside mountain bike gold medalist Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. Marchand recently appeared on NBC's Today Show after winning all four of France's swimming gold medals.

United States: Katie Ledecky, who won gold in the women's 800-meter freestyle and 1,500-meter freestyle, will co-carry the U.S. flag with rower Nick Mead. Mead helped secure the U.S.'s first Olympic gold in men's four since 1960.

Australia: Kaylee McKeown and sailor Matt Wearn will carry Australia's flag. McKeown repeated her Tokyo Games feat by winning both the 100- and 200-meter backstroke titles.

India: Manu Bhaker and PR Sreejesh will be India's flag carriers. Bhaker became the first Indian woman to win a shooting medal, securing bronze in the 10-meter air pistol and another in the mixed team event. Sreejesh helped India win bronze in men's field hockey and is retiring after these Games.

Italy: Italian couple Rossella Fiamingo and Gregorio Paltrinieri will carry their national flag. Fiamingo won team fencing gold while Paltrinieri secured silver and bronze in swimming.

The closing ceremony promises to be a memorable event, celebrating athletes' achievements and marking the transition to Los Angeles for the next Summer Games.