Yarnold honoured to be Britain’s flag bearer for Pyeongchang opening ceremony

Lizzy Yarnold has been named as the Great Britain flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang on Friday.

The 29-year-old goes into the Games as the defending women’s skeleton champion having clinched gold in Sochi four years ago.

Yarnold becomes the second skeleton athlete to carry the flag at a Winter Olympics opening ceremony, after Shelley Rudman who led Britain out in Vancouver in 2010.

Yarnold said: “I am hugely honoured to be flag bearer. I have been flag bearer in a closing ceremony in Sochi and that was really cool, but that was a celebration of an amazing Games.

“I do feel a big responsibility at the beginning of the Games – I am representing the team so I can’t drop the flag or get it wrapped round the pole.

“I’ve got to make sure I stand tall and represent GB. It’s something I’m used to doing sliding on the competitive field but in a ceremonial moment it’s really exciting and something I never thought would happen.”