Triathlete Gianluca Bortoli and swimmer Maggie Mewett have been selected to carry the Bermuda flag at the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.
The duo will lead out the island’s delegation on a landmark occasion, with Dakar hosting the first Olympic sporting event ever staged on the African continent.
Both teenagers enter the Games following an impressive run of form on the regional and international circuit.
Bortoli, who will contest the individual triathlon, takes on flag-bearing duties after proving his mettle across the swim, bike, and run legs over a demanding qualification cycle.
Mewett, one of the island's standout young prospects in the pool, earns the honour after a stellar season that saw her secure qualification times across multiple sprint and middle-distance events.
The selection reflects Bermuda's rich tradition across both disciplines at senior Olympic level, following the trailblazing exploits of Olympic triathlon champion Dame Flora Duffy and Olympian Kiera Aitken.
The Bermudian quartet in Dakar also includes javelin thrower Tatiana Sousa and swimmer Noah Maranzana, with the team overseen by former international swimmer and Chef de Mission Ashley Yearwood.
The opening ceremony will officially launch two weeks of elite junior competition, with Bermuda’s athletes set to feature across three sports in the Senegalese capital.
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