BEGA Valley snowboarder Alex Pullin has been chosen for one of the highest honours for an Australian Winter Olympics - carrying the flag at the opening ceremony.
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Pullin, who is commonly known as "Chumpy", will carry the Australian flag at Friday night's Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Sochi, Russia.
Pullin is viewed as one of Australia’s top medal contenders at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
He will compete in the men’s snowboard cross event.
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported Pullin was a “surprise selection” ahead of four-time Olympic aerial freestyle skier Lydia Lasilla to carry the Australian flag (SMH, 7/1).
Pullin will lead a 60-strong team of Aussie athletes into the ceremony.
The SMH reported that Pullin was named flagbearer in front of Channel Ten stakeholders Lachlan Murdoch and James Packer, and Federal Minister for Sport Peter Dutton.
Pullin will hope to replicate the success of 2008 Winter Olympics Australian flagbearer Torah Bright, who went on to win a gold medal.
Member for Eden-Monaro Peter Hendy expressed his delight in Pullin's selection.
“I congratulate Alex Pullin… that is a fantastic achievement,” Mr Hendy said on Friday.
“We can all be very proud of Alex.”
