All Episodes

August 11, 2024 6 mins

Eight-time Olympic champion Dame Lisa Carrington and gold medallist Finn Butcher will carry the New Zealand flag in tonight’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony.

The pair were formally announced as Ngā Pou Hapai (flag bearers) by Chef de Mission Nigel Avery in front of teammates in the Olympic Village this afternoon local time.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Sport, the latest from the Land and just great rock.
It's the Country Sport Breakfast with Brian Kelly on Gold Sport,
your home of live commentary. Kayak Cross Final.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
They plunge in and the gold medal is his. Finn
Butcher is an alempicka period.

Speaker 1 (00:20):
We're done and dusted as far as competition is concerned.
At the thirty third Olympiad in Paris, closing ceremony is
getting underway about now. Eight time Olympic champion Dame Lisa
Carrington and gold medalist Butcher will carry the New Zealand
flag into the State de France for the closing of
the Olympic Games. In fact, Finn Butcher joins us right now. Finn, bonjour, bonjour,

(00:45):
How are we very very well? Thank you? More importantly,
number one, congratulations on the gold that has that sort
of sunken by now.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
Oh it's starting too, it's starting to. Yeah, it's been
a while few days. It's been pretty cool to to
celebrate with friends and family, and yeah, get out and
see a few more events and things and yeah, now
we're obviously just about heading to the stadium for the
closing ceremony. So it's crazy, it's been going so fast,
but yeah, it's been an awesome time.

Speaker 1 (01:16):
And for the kid from Alexandria, you get the pleasure
the honor of carrying the New Zealand flag a long
time alongside eight time Olympic champion Dame Lisa Carrington. How
cool is that? When did you find that out?

Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, that's pretty it's pretty unreal. Oh, man, Like, it's
honestly more than I'd ever dream of, you know, like
it's you see when you're a kid, all the all
the superstars hearing in the flag and oh, it's crazy
to be to be having the honor for myself and yeah,

(01:50):
beside the goat the greatest of all time, Dame Lisa
is quite it's honestly mind blowing. And you know, Nigel
Avery are the shift of miss and called me a
couple of days ago and asked if I'd if I'd
like the honor, and man, honestly, like I was in
tears on the phone to him because man, just thinking

(02:12):
about that little kid from Central Tiger, It's it's pretty crazy.

Speaker 1 (02:18):
Yeah, the little kid from Central Otago, when he was three,
I think sat in his first kayak and at fifteen
you traveled to Europe to compete in some some events.
So you've come a long way. Your journey's been amazing,
hasn't it.

Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yeah, Yeah, it's been been pretty special.

Speaker 1 (02:36):
Man.

Speaker 2 (02:36):
I've been so lucky to be able to to be
able to do.

Speaker 1 (02:39):
What I do.

Speaker 2 (02:39):
And yeah, I've been supported by a lot of people obviously, So.

Speaker 1 (02:44):
Has it been great having special Mum and Dad have
been really strong behind you. They've financed you along the ways.
It's been great having them over there.

Speaker 2 (02:52):
Yeah. Yeah, they've honestly, like they've been that'll be my
biggest supporters and I'm so so grateful for them. You know,
they were working, you know, eighty to one hundred hour
weeks during the summer and at a cafe and function
business they ran, and just to be able to afford
for me to go and and race my kayak overseas,

(03:14):
and honestly to have them here and witness that was
pretty special. And ah, man, it was running across the
other side of the course after the podium ceremony and
giving them a big hug was one of the moments
of my life. I need forget so man, that's pretty cool.

Speaker 1 (03:32):
And having Luca Jones over there, she's been a big
influence in your career as far as kayaking is concerned, isn't.

Speaker 2 (03:38):
She Yeah, she's been awesome as well, Like you know,
like the way she can she has consistently been able
to perform at the highest level at the biggest events
is amazing. And you know, five Olympic Games speaks for itself.
But she's been at the top of top of the

(04:00):
world for a long time. And you know, she put
our sport on the map as well and helped us,
helped us get some support and funding and build a
bit more of a program. And for sure, I definitely
wouldn't be here if if she wasn't around. And well, yeah,
we're all super grateful for her and we'll miss her
for sure, but I don't think she'll go too far.

(04:21):
Kayaking's kind of one of those things where one of
those sports where you're sort of in it for life
in one way or another, and she'll stay part of
the community.

Speaker 1 (04:30):
After you won the gold, you mentioned you went out
and about and had a look at some other events.
What were some of the other highlights for you.

Speaker 2 (04:37):
I actually last night I was at the athletics and
watched Hamish her jump to gold and the high tump
So and that was a pretty special moment, and what
an epic celebration he had running out into the middle
of the field and lying down in the middle of
Stut de France with seventy odd thousand people in there.
So man, I saw him today and gavinim bit of

(04:58):
a Hagen said, congrat relations and yeah, that was that
was a pretty epic moment. And yeah, apart from that,
we are really you know that champion's parade down to
the Trocadero with all the Middleists from Kenerusu Island with
me and walking out in front of the Eiffel Tower
was was unreal as well. So yeah, some cool.

Speaker 1 (05:21):
Moments so far, apart from carrying the flag in and
I guess you'll be a little bit nervous about that.
You've got to special instructions about how to do it
and what you have to do when you walk into
the state of France.

Speaker 2 (05:32):
I'm pretty sure Lisa Will showed me how to do it.

Speaker 1 (05:35):
So we're too now, We're too now for Finn, butcher
what happens next?

Speaker 2 (05:38):
Finn, I'm actually going to shuit home tomorrow for a
little bit and then back to Europe later on for
a couple more World Cups in Italy and Spain, and
then I'll have a have a little bit of a
holiday with my partner, and yeah, look forward to what's coming.

Speaker 1 (06:00):
Fantastic will you'll get a civic reception when you get home.
You get the keys to Alexandra. Mate. But in the
meantime we'll say a Warren enjoy the closing ceremony.

Speaker 2 (06:10):
We'll do, mate, Thank you for very much.

Speaker 1 (06:12):
What a fantastic performance. Finn Butcher picking up gold, and
I don't think the entire country didn't expect that one.
In the kayak crossed Olympic gold and it was a
wonderful event. The guy started three years old in a
kayak and just has not looked back.
Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club

The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.