Boban pusher Thorsten Margis will carry the German flag at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing. This was announced by DOSB President Thomas Weikert on Saturday in Beijing.
“Thorsten is now a three-time Olympic champion. On the one hand, we wanted to send a signal that someone who isn’t the focus of attention so often also carries the flag, and on the other hand, we wanted to reward the bobsleigh and sled association for having achieved immense success here,” said Weikert.
“It’s an unbelievable honor. I’m the first brakeman ever in Germany who’s allowed to touch a flag, whether it’s at the opening or closing ceremony,” said Margis. “It’s crazy. It’s something very special for a brakeman because they fall off the back more often. That’s a really cool thing.”
The 32-year-old won gold in the two-man bobsleigh together with Francesco Friedrich on Tuesday. In the foursome, Margis and Friedrich’s team are in the lead at half-time. The brakeman had already celebrated two Olympic victories four years ago in Pyeongchang. The closing ceremony begins on Sunday at 8:00 p.m. local time (1:00 p.m. CET) – around eight hours after the fourth round in the Yanqing Ice Track.
Five-time Olympic speed skating champion Claudia Pechstein (49) and Friedrich (31) carried the flag at the opening ceremony. Pechstein took part in their eighth Winter Games in Beijing, Friedrich, like Margis, won his third Olympic gold and has his fourth in sight.
In 2018 in Pyeongchang, after the sensational silver medal, ice hockey player Christian Ehrhoff led the German team to the stadium to finish the Olympics.