Ana Gros and Benjamin Savšek to be Slovenia's flag bearers in Paris

The flag bearers were selected by the leadership of the Slovenian Olympic team for Paris 2024 based on their numerous successes and historic achievements.

As Slovenia fields a record 90 athletes this time, the flag bearer selection process also took into account the ratio of teams to individuals, as the country has three teams at the Games, the OKS said.

"It was a difficult choice, but we believe that we made the right choice and that we have the support of the entire Slovenian Olympic team," the OKS added.

This is the first time the national women's handball team will play at the Olympics in independent Slovenia, which has happened under the team's captain Ana Gros.

This year Gros also enjoyed a string of outstanding club successes, becoming Women's Handball League champion together with Hungary's Gyor.

She is the top scorer and player in the history of Slovenian women's national handball and recipient of the EHF Excellence Award in the 2022/23 Women's Champions League.

"It feels incredible to be a flag bearer. I think it's every athlete's wish and dream. It's a really great honour and I'm really proud and happy to be able to represent Slovenia in the best possible manner," Gros said.

With a steady stellar career, Benjamin Savšek, one of the country's best athletes, has won Slovenia the first Olympic gold in canoeing.

Apart from that Olympic medal in C-1 slalom from the Tokyo Games, he has won nine medals at world and twelve at European championships, of which eleven golds.

"I'm really happy and honoured to have the opportunity of being a flag-bearer at the opening ceremony of the Olympics. This is truly an opportunity of a lifetime," he said.

This is the second time Slovenia has two flag bearers after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, when the honour went to kayaker Eva Terčelj and table tennis player Bojan Tokić.