Lauren Parker Poised to Make History as First Australian Paralympian to Lead the Flag at Both Summer and Winter Games

Lauren Parker is set to make history at the closing ceremony of Milano-Cortina, as she becomes the first Australian athlete to carry the flag at both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games.

Just over two years after receiving this esteemed honour, Parker will team up with Australian captain Sean Pollard to proudly bear the flag during the closing ceremony.

The accomplished skier will embark on a swift two-hour journey from Tesero to Cortina on Sunday, immediately following the conclusion of her 20km cross-country ski event.

While Parker has an outside chance of securing a medal in the competition, her aspirations for future triumphs remain undeterred.

This is a remarkable achievement for the Australian athlete, who only 11 months ago experienced sitting in a sit ski for the first time.

In less than a year since that moment, she has proven herself by reaching the finals of the Paralympic biathlon sprint pursuit.

Following her event, her primary focus will shift to ceremonially carrying the Australian flag once more.

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Parker’s last stint as a flag bearer was at the closing ceremony in Paris in 2024, where she was joined by swimming star James Turner.

While some athletes have held the honour of carrying the flag for both the opening and closing ceremonies at the Paralympic Winter Games, none have achieved this feat at both the Summer and Winter Games.

This time, Pollard will accompany her as she carries the flag. He recently finished ninth in snowboard cross and 12th in the banked slalom SB-UL category.

Pollard expressed that carrying the flag is a proud achievement in his sporting journey.

“It will be a moment for reflection on what our team has achieved over the past week,” he noted.

“We can certainly hold our heads high.”