Squash legend Rachael Grinham named Australia’s 2022 Birmingham Flagbearer

Decorated six-time squash representative Rachael Grinham alongside three-time hockey gold medallist Eddie Ockenden has been named as Australia’s dual flagbearers for tomorrow night’s Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony.
 
It is only the second time since Australia's first flagbearer, rowing legend Bobby Pearce led the Australian team out in Hamilton, Canada for the 1930 British Empire Games, that there have been co-flag bearers – Ockenden and Grinham joining cycling twins Sal and Remo Sansonetti (Edmonton in 1978).
 
Tasmanian Ockenden, 35 and Queenslander, Grinham, 45 were revealed by Australian Team Chef de Mission, Petria Thomas OAM in the presence of their Excellencies Governor-General, the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Mrs Linda Hurley and in front of over 300 team members inside the Birmingham University Athletes Village.
 
Ockenden is the second athlete from hockey to carry the flag, following in the footsteps of another Kookaburras co-captain Mark Knowles who was the flagbearer four years ago on the Gold Coast.
 
Grinham – an eight-time Games medallist – two of them gold – becomes the first Australian squash player in the history of the Games to carry the flag.
 
She has been synonymous with the sport of squash from a teenager who travelled seven days a week from Toowoomba to Brisbane to train before becoming one of the sport’s all-time greatest players – making her Games debut in 1998 in Kuala Lumpur as a 21-year-old, winning silver with Robyn Cooper in the women’s doubles – going on to play in 2002, 2006, 2014 and 2018.
 
It was a sister act at the Melbourne 2006 Games when Rachael paired with sister Natalie to win gold in the women’s doubles.

After the announcement went live around the nation on Seven's Sunrise, Grinham couldn't quite believe she was named as an Opening Ceremony Flagbearer.

"As an Australian squash player, the Commonwealth Games is the biggest event we can go to," she told Sunrise.

"I really wasn't expecting this at all and I am in complete shock at the moment." 

Thomas made the announcement, flanked by three previous flag bearers, Damian Brown (weightlifting) Manchester 2002; Sharelle McMahon (netball) Delhi 2010 and Anna Meares OAM (cycling) Glasgow 2014.
 
Ockenden and Grinham won the honour from a who’s who of Commonwealth Games member sports who supplied over 25 nominations to Commonwealth Games Australia and Thomas, a nine-time gold medal winning swimmer from three Games herself, took great pride and privilege in making the final decision.
 
“In the end, we have chosen men’s hockey co-captain Eddie Ockenden who will be attending his fourth Commonwealth Games and is a three-time defending gold medallist looking to win a fourth gold,” said Thomas.
 
“And decorated female squash player Rachael Grinham – an eight-time Games medallist including two gold in 2006 and 2002 – who will be attending her sixth Commonwealth Games.
 
“These decisions are not just based on how many Games they have been to – they have to be model athletes and both Eddie and Rachael certainly tick that box.
 
“Although we don’t actually have team captains, they do become our unofficial team leaders so it is a great honour.
 
“And how thankful are we that we get the opportunity to have a male and a female to carry the flag together.
 
“It is never an easy decision and this one was made in consultation with my fellow team executive members.
 
“It’s a massive honour to carry the flag.
 
“We saw the dual flag bearers in Tokyo last year and so often there is more than one stand-out athlete and it’s great to have that equal representation.
 
“It’s a landmark Games too with a record number of female events and actually more female team members in this team than males.
 
“These choices come with a lot of responsibility – this is a big one –and I know we have chosen two fantastic athletes who have shown great commitment to the Commonwealth movement.
 
“I know they will be fitting representatives for the team.”
 
Thomas singled out the Governor General David Hurley and Mrs Hurley as great supporters of the Australian Commonwealth Games team.
 
“They have hosted us twice at Admiralty House in Sydney and there will be another function in Canberra when we get home as well. They are both keen to be here and support the team as well,” said Thomas.