Bruce Mouat Selected as Closing Ceremony Flagbearer for Beijing 2022

Bruce Mouat has been named Team GB’s flagbearer for the Closing Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

Mouat was given the honour after winning a curling silver medal for Team GB alongside teammates Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie, Hammy McMillan and Ross Whyte.

He will carry the flag into the National Stadium as the curtain is brought down on a Winter Games that has seen curling fever sweep the nation once more and saw Eve Muirhead's rink secure gold.

Nineteen days of competition, in which 49 Team GB athletes took to the ice or snow, have been bookended by British curlers who made it into the Olympic final of both the men’s and women’s competition.

Mouat became the first person to represent Great Britain in both men’s and mixed doubles curling and has spent over 40 hours in competition since his campaign began on 2 February.

In a Games like no other, his calm demeanour under extreme pressure exemplified the spirit shown by the curling rinks representing Team GB.

The 27-year-old skip was told of the decision by Team GB Chef de Mission, Georgie Harland alongside his team the evening after their final against Sweden.

Away from the Ice Cube in Beijing there were exciting performances from freestyle skier Kirsty Muir, the youngest member of the British delegation, who finished in fifth in the Big Air and eighth in the slopestyle. Cornelius Kersten recorded the best result for a British speed skater since 1964 with ninth in the 1000m and Brad Hall's bobsleigh crew finished in sixth.

Mouat made it to the semi-final of the mixed doubles alongside childhood friend Jen Dodds. The silver medallist and flagbearer said: “It is a massive honour to be invited to carry the flag for Team GB at the Closing Ceremony. While we, as a team, didn't get the colour of medal we wanted, that apart I don’t think I could have taken more from this first Olympic experience, having been involved in competition from two days before the Opening Ceremony and all the way through to the final weekend, while winning Team GB’s first medal on the way.

"I am also very proud on behalf of our sport that we have led the British team out at the start and finish of the Games after Eve carried the flag at the Opening Ceremony.

"The Olympics represent our greatest opportunity to promote our sport and I am hoping we can fully capitalise on that in the weeks, months and years to come."

Team GB Chef de Mission for Beijing 2022, Georgie Harland, said: “Once again, curling has gripped the nation at a Winter Games and I'm delighted that Bruce has accepted the invitation to lead out the British delegation at the Closing Ceremony of Beijing 2022.

"Bruce made history in his pairing with Jen Dodds and has been an ever present throughout the Games finishing with a brilliant silver in a tight contest against the Swedes. He has been such a positive person to have around the Village and I hope he enjoys this special moment and it brings to a close a fantastic Games for him and his rink."