The flag bearers for the ParalympicsGB team have been revealed as Ellie Simmonds OBE and John Stubbs MBE.

The pair will carry the Union Flag at the opening ceremony in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Both are veteran Paralympians, with 10 medals between them.

Swimmer Simmonds, 26, took home two medals in her debut at Beijing 2008, before clinching four at London 2012.

At Rio de Janeiro 2016, she added another two medals to her haul – taking her total to five golds, a silver, and two bronzes.

Archer Stubbs, 56, won gold in Beijing, and a silver in Rio.

Simmonds said: “I’m hugely honoured to carry the flag for the ParalympicsGB team – on behalf of all the athletes, support staff and for the entire nation back home. To go to the Paralympic Games and be given the opportunity to do that is just amazing.

“This is going to be my fourth Games and my first opening ceremony. Just to be here in Tokyo is amazing but to carry the flag is the icing on the cake and I can’t wait for the competition to start.”

Simmonds will be the first woman to carry the flag for ParalympicsGB since Maggie McEleny at Sydney 2000.

Stubbs – the oldest athlete on the team – will be the first archer to carry the flag in recent Paralympic history.

He said: “It’s an absolute honour to be representing ParalympicsGB as flag bearer alongside Ellie.

“I felt incredibly emotional when I was told the news. For any elite athlete to go to the Games and be bestowed this honour is a privilege. Words can’t describe what it means to me.

“It’s been a torrid year – unfortunately I lost my dad in January. He was my biggest fan, and hopefully if he’s looking down on me, he’s there saying, ‘do it for the Stubbs family John, you’ve earned it and you deserve it’.

“I know my family will be as proud as punch.”

Penny Briscoe OBE, the chef de mission of ParalympicsGB, said: “Both Ellie and John exemplify what it means to be a ParalympicsGB athlete. Their excellence on the field of play as well as their integrity, leadership and commitment to the team is something very special.

“I am delighted Ellie and John will jointly carry the Union Flag on Tuesday and I have no doubt that by their example they will inspire the whole of the ParalympicsGB team to achieve great things over the coming 12 days of competition.”

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