The Olympic Federation of Ireland have announced that Ben Lynch, Irish freestyle skier, will serve as Team Ireland's flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Verona tonight.
Lynch capped off a standout Games for Ireland with a historic performance that saw him become the first Irish skier to qualify for a Winter Olympics final, ultimately finishing eighth in the men’s halfpipe, one of Ireland’s best Winter Olympic results to date.
The Closing Ceremony takes place at Verona Arena this evening, bringing together the four Irish athletes for the first time since their team camp in Bolzano last month.
Team Ireland’s four-athlete delegation has delivered memorable competition across northern Italy over the past sixteen days.
Lynch marked his Olympic debut in style, surpassing his own pre-competition expectations by qualifying for the Olympic final and pushing his performance further with the addition of new tricks, securing the best results of his career to date.
In Alpine skiing, Cormac Comerford competed across all four individual events, posting solid results in downhill, Super-G, giant slalom, and slalom in Bormio.
Thomas Maloney Westgård, in his third Olympic Games, closed out the Irish programme with a 23rd place in the demanding men’s 50 km cross-country mass start classic in Predazzo.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Anabelle Zurbay represented Ireland in Alpine slalom and giant slalom, becoming Ireland’s youngest Winter Olympian in these events.
On being named flagbearer, Ben Lynch said: "To carry the Irish flag at the Closing Ceremony is an incredible honour. After making history by reaching the halfpipe final, something I dreamed of for years, this moment brings it all together.
"I'm proud of what our team has achieved in Milano Cortina and hope our performances inspire more people back home to pursue their sporting dreams."
