Eventing icon Mark Todd is being tipped by the New Zealand media as frontrunner to carry the country’s flag at the Olympic opening ceremony this summer.
New Zealand’s most-read news website, stuff.co.nz, has reported that prominent Olympians – shotputter Valerie Adams and rower Mahe Drysdale – are unable to take up the role.
And it suggests that the 56-year-old rider is next favourite for the job.
Toddy carried the flag at the 1992 Games in Barcelona, so if he gets the nod for London it would make him only the third Kiwi to receive the honour twice.
The website also tips Mark’s fellow eventer Andrew Nicholson as a possible – but behind two other athletes.
Mark told newspaper the Sunday Star-Times that he had planned to skip the opening ceremony on 27 July as he would be competing, in the dressage phase, at Greenwich the following day.
“But if I was asked [to carry the flag] I think I’d be able to do it. It’s a big honour,” he added.
The Kiwi flagbearer will be officially announced on the day of the ceremony.
