Thomas Maloney Westgård and Anabelle Zurbay to fly the Irish flag at the Opening Ceremony in Milano Cortina 2026
The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) is proud to announce Thomas Maloney Westgård and Anabelle Zurbay as the Allianz Flagbearers for Team Ireland at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
In line with the continued commitment to gender equality from the International Olympic Committee, the pair represent emerging talent and experience on the team.
Today’s announcement coincides with the publication of the Team Ireland Media Guide, which is the full guide to the Irish team who will be competing at the Games.
Download the Media Guide here.
A new approach will see Opening Ceremony events across the four Olympic clusters, with celebration events in Cortina, Livigno and Predazzo, along with the main event in the Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium. In Milan the spectators will enjoy a spectacular event, which includes five-time Grammy Award winner Mariah Carey, Golden Globe winner Laura Pausini, as well as famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
The cluster-based celebrations allow athletes to ensure they maintain their performance focus, while soaking up one an important part of the Olympic experience.
Born to a Galway mother, Norwegian-based cross-country skier Maloney Westgård will carry the flag in the Predazzo cluster, and Rosemount in Westmeath can celebrate with seventeen-year-old Zurbay’s moment, where she will walk in the Cortina Cluster. Ben Lynch and Cormac Comerford will both walk in the Livigno athlete parade.
Thomas Maloney Westgård who is about to become a three-time Olympian was proud to get the call up,
“To be named an Allianz Flagbearer for Team Ireland is a huge honour. The Olympics are the pinnacle of sport, and to carry the Irish flag alongside Anabelle, is something I’m incredibly proud of and I know I will cherish for the rest of my life. I hope we can inspire people back home and show what is possible for Irish athletes, and winter Olympic hopefuls on the world stage.”
Zurbay, still a student, echoed her teammate’s pride, saying,
“It was a big surprise to be asked to carry the flag for Ireland, with Thomas. It’s so exciting to be competing in my first Olympic Games, and to start that experience with such a big opportunity, is really special.”
Team Ireland Chef de Mission for Milano Cortina 2026, Nancy Chillingworth, said:
“Thomas and Anabelle perfectly represent what Team Ireland stands for – excellence, ambition and balance. From the youngest to the most experienced athlete on the team, they embody the progress of Irish winter sport and the values of the Olympic Movement. We are delighted to see them recognised as Allianz Flagbearers at these Games.”
Phillip Gronemeyer, CEO of Allianz Ireland, said,
“Allianz is immensely proud to support Team Ireland and to celebrate Thomas Maloney Westgård and Anabelle Zurbay as Allianz Flagbearers. Their stories reflect resilience, dedication and the pursuit of excellence – values that resonate strongly with Allianz. We wish the entire Team Ireland squad every success in Milano Cortina and look forward to cheering them on as they represent Ireland on the Olympic stage.”
The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games take place from 6–22 February, with Irish athletes competing across Alpine Skiing, Freestyle Skiing and Cross-Country Skiing in multiple competition clusters across northern Italy.
Team Ireland’s four-athlete squad combines three first-time Olympians with one returning Olympian, highlighting both the growth and depth of Irish winter sport.
The Allianz Flagbearers announcement forms part of Team Ireland’s preparations as the squad moves into the final phase of readiness for the Games.
Please contact heather@olympicsport.ie for interview requests, and for moving images of training, which will be available over the coming weeks.