Paris Olympics 2024: Kaylee McKeown, West Australian sailor Matt Wearn to carry flag at Games closing ceremony

Gold medallists Kaylee McKeown and Perth’s Matt Wearn will be Australia’s flag bearers at the Paris Olympics closing ceremony.

They made history at the Paris Games, with McKeown becoming Australia’s first four-time individual gold medallist when the swimmer defended her 100m and 200m backstroke titles.

Wearn is the first sailor to successfully defend the Olympic men’s dinghy title.

McKeown will return from a post-Games family holiday in Croatia, while Wearn is in Paris with his Belgian wife Emma, also an Olympic sailor.

Royal Perth Yacht Club Commodore Janet Hornbuckle said the club was “immensely proud” of Wearn, who was a member.

“We’re very proud of what he’s achieved throughout the course of all his sailing career, but particularly so now because he’s got his second gold medal in the laser class.,” she said.

“For his achievement to be recognised with the honour of carrying the flag in the closing ceremony, I’m just so proud for him.”

Dr Hornbuckle said the club had been confident he would win the gold medal again.

“His ability on the water has been proven time and time again,” she said.

“He was back-to-back world champion in the men’s dinghy ILCA 7 class and also in the Tokyo Olympics, of course. And in all three of those events, he had won the gold medal even before he went into the medal race.

“He made it a little bit harder for himself this time, because he was only 14 points ahead. But he never gives up, and he knows what he’s doing out there.

“It was a big relief, of course, when he did win the gold medal. But we didn’t expect him to do anything less than that, and I’m sure he didn’t expect anything less himself, either.”

Australia has won a record 18 gold medals at the Paris Olympics so far.

Canoe and kayak slalom great Jess Fox and hockey veteran Eddie Ockenden were the Australian flag bearers at the opening ceremony.