Andy Murray has been named as Great Britain’s flag bearer for Friday’s opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympics in favour of the boxer Nicola Adams.
Advertisement
Murray clinched men’s singles gold at the London 2012 Games as well as silver in the mixed doubles alongside Laura Robson.
Among the first to congratulate the Grand Slam victor was fellow Scot Sir Chris Hoy, the Team GB flag bearer at London 2012.
“I am very proud to be selected as the Team GB Flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony on Friday”.
He said that is was an “incredible honour” to be chosen to hold GB’s flag during the opening ceremony.
She added: “I’ve been to plenty of tennis events over the years – I was in Beijing and I was in London and I’m very happy to miss this one and watch it on the television”.
Murray’s chances of retaining the gold medal were boosted after the news Swiss duo Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka will be missing through injury, according to the Guardian. And unlike many top singles players, who pulled out of the Olympics due to injury or concerns about the Zika virus, Murray never wavered about his commitment to play in Rio.
Rio de Janeiro: Defending Olympic champion Andy Murray has decided against living in a private Rio apartment to move into the sprawling Athletes Village, according to International Tennis Federation chief David Haggerty.
Murray has not played since his lifting his second Wimbledon title three weeks ago.
The three-time grand slam victor and Olympic gold medalist four years ago in London, expressed his excitement to have been rewarded with flag-bearing duties for the Maracana extravaganza.
Tennis star Murray, the defending Olympic champion, will lead out the British team in what he describes as one of the proudest moments of his career. “I’m just trying to treat it as any other tournament and trying to prepare as best I can”, he said.
The Brit won the singles at London 2012 and has chose to defend his title, despite worries over Zika in Brazil.
“He was absolutely visibly moved by the honour”, England said.
Advertisement
He will also partner up with older brother Jamie in the men’s double competition.
