Freestyle skier Ben Lynch has described his selection as Team Ireland’s closing ceremony flagbearer as an “incredible honour”.

He will carry the Irish flag on Sunday night at the 2026 Winter Olympics closing ceremony.

Earlier in the Games, Lynch made history. He became the first Irish skier to reach an Olympic halfpipe final. He went on to finish eighth. That result ranks among Ireland’s best ever at a Winter Olympics.

Speaking after the announcement, Lynch said: “To carry the Irish flag at the closing ceremony is an incredible honour.

“After reaching the halfpipe final, which I dreamed about for years, this moment brings everything together.”

Meanwhile, the closing ceremony will take place in Verona.

All four Irish athletes will attend.

Team Ireland athletes, from left, freestyle half-pipe skier Ben Lynch, alpine skiers Cormac Comerford and Anabelle Zurbay, and cross-country skier Thomas Maloney Westgaard (David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile/PA)

Alongside Lynch, alpine skier Cormac Comerford will take part. Comerford competed in four events in Bormio: downhill, super-G, giant slalom and slalom.

In addition, Thomas Maloney Westgaard competed at his third Olympic Games. He finished 23rd in the 50km mass start classic in Predazzo.

Seventeen-year-old Anabelle Zurbay also represented Ireland. She raced in the alpine slalom and giant slalom.

Team Ireland’s chef de mission, Nancy Chillingworth, praised the group’s efforts.

“I am immensely proud of every athlete who represented Ireland in Milano Cortina,” she said.

“They competed with determination and professionalism. They performed at a very high level.

“Importantly, these performances show real progress in Irish winter sport. They give us confidence as we build toward the next Olympic cycle.”

Finally, the team will travel home on Monday. They will attend a formal homecoming event in Ireland.