'Greatest moment of my career': Jess Fox, Eddie Ockenden unveiled as Australia's flag bearers
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Jess Fox and Eddie Ockenden have been officially named Australia's flag bearers for Paris 2024.
Fox, from the sport of canoeing/kayaking and Ockenden, from hockey, were given the honour by Chef de Mission, Anna Meares.
The pair will lead out Team Australia during the Opening Ceremony, which will take place at 3.30am on Saturday morning (AEST).
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Fox, who will be competing at her fourth Olympic Games, and is a strong gold medal favourite after completing the set in Tokyo - she had previously won silver and bronze medals in Rio and London - declared the honour was one of the most important of her life.
Eddie Ockenden and Jessica Fox of Team Australia react on stage with a hug, after being named flagbearers ahead of Paris 2024. Getty
"It's probably the greatest moment of my career," Fox said at the official ceremony on Nine.
"To lead us out and present us to Paris, present us to the world … visualising those incredible moments over the next two weeks that will happen, just gives me goosebumps."
As for Ockenden, who is 37 and competing at his fifth Olympics, the moment took him by surprise.
"It's really, really hard to sort of describe how it feels," Ockenden said.
"The only thing I can think of is, I'm just filled with so much gratitude. I can't believe that I'm here honestly."
Watch every moment, every medal of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now. Plus, every event streaming ad free, live and on demand with 4K on Stan Sport.
Eddie Ockenden and Jessica Fox of Team Australia pose with an Australian flag after being named flagbearers ahead of Paris 2024. Getty
Tokyo 2020 flag bearer and four-time Olympic gold medallist, Cate Campbell, offered some advice.
"We get to hand that on to the next generation. My advice to them would just be, take it all in. It's something you never would have dreamed of," Campbell said on Nine.
The opening ceremony will be held as a "Parade of Nations", which will float down the Seine River in Paris, in front of the Eiffel Tower.
