Queralt Castellet and Ander Mirambell, flag bearers of the Spanish Olympic team in Beijing

Queralt Castellet and Ander Mirambell have been appointed by the executive committee of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) to be the flag bearers of the national team at the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, which will be held from February 4 to 20, reports said body.

The Sabadellian ‘rider’ Queralt Castellet, 32 years old and who was already the sole flag bearer for Spain in Vancouver 2010, will participate in Beijing in his fifth Games, and the skeleton pilot Ander Mirambell38, will do it in his rooms.

For the first time, a man and a woman will be in charge of carrying the Spanish flag in a winter Olympic ceremony. They relieve in this function when rolling Lucas Eguibar, who did it in Pyeongchang in 2018. In the summer of Tokyo 2020 the flag bearers were the canoeist Saul Craviotto and the swimmer Mira Belmonte.

executive decision

The president of the COE, Alexander Whitecommunicated this decision to both through a telematic meeting held after the approval by the Executive of the proposal made by the president of the Olympic entity.

🚨 OFFICIAL: The Executive Committee of the COE confirms that the flag bearers of the Spanish Olympic team in #Beijing2022 They will be Ander Mirambell and Queralt Castellet.

✅ The @COE_en parade again with two flag bearers, after doing it for the first time in #Tokyo2020.

– Spanish Olympic Committee (@COE_es) January 25, 2022

Mirambel declared that “it is an honor to lead a delegation with fourteen athletes who are true heroes”. “I sincerely thank you for transmitting this responsibility to me because it is something that cannot be achieved with results. We will represent our country with our hearts and with passion,” she added.

Castellet rShe acknowledged that she is “very excited” because she did not expect it, “and even less after having been the flag bearer in Vancouver” in 2010. “It is an incredible surprise. It is an honor to carry the flag with Ander and I am looking forward to being there”, affirmed in declarations that spread the COE. Other women championed by Spain were Blanca Fernandez Ochoa (Sarajevo 1984 and Albertville 1992), Ainhoa ​​Ibarra (Calgary 1988 and Lillehammer 1984) and Maria Jose Rein (Turin 2006).

Alexander White He dedicated a few words to each one: “You have all the medals you can have. You have broken all the barriers. You left when you were very young in search of your dream and I only wish you that medal. I hope that Beijing brings you all the luck that comes to you.” you deserve,” he told Castellet.

TO Mirambel reminded him that “the most important thing about success is the journey.” “And if anyone has traveled a great path, it is you. We wish you the best. The success is that you are going to compete in your fourth Games and the competition will already place you,” she added.

A small delegation

The Spanish team that will participate in Beijing 2022 will be made up of fourteen athletes, five of them in the ice disciplines and nine in the snow disciplines, with Queralt Castellet and Lucas Eguibar as main medal options.

📹 The moment in which the president of the COE, Alejandro Blanco (@coe_president), communicated to @anderskeleton Y @q_castellet who were chosen to carry the Spanish flag in the inaugural parade of #Beijing2022.

😍 Congratulations to both of you! #TheHeartOfSpain pic.twitter.com/LzeFmCJsk9

– Spanish Olympic Committee (@COE_es) January 25, 2022

The Royal Spanish Ice Sports Federation will be represented by Ander Mirabell, who will play his fourth Games in the skeleton modality, and by the figure skaters Laura Barquero and Marco Zandron, first Olympic Spaniards in pairs, and Adrian Diaz and Olivia Smart in dance. Díaz already participated in Sochi 2014 forming a couple with Sara Hurtado.

As for the Royal Spanish Winter Sports Federation, it will go to Beijing with Adur Etxezarreta (descending and supergiant), Joaquin Salarich (slalom) and Núria Pau (giant) in alpine skiing; with Javier Lliso and Thibault Magnin in acrobatic skiing (slopestyle and big air); con Imanol Red (skiathlon, 15 km classic and 50 km mass start) and James Pueyo (sprint) in cross-country skiing; and with Lucas Eguibar (snowboard cross) and Queralt Castellet (half pipe) and snowboarding.

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Lucas Eguibar He is world champion in his specialty and Castellet has added three bronzes this season in the World Cup, so they aim for the podium in Beijing.