Riner, 27, who was elected as the Chairman of the IJF Athletes Commission in Rio de Janeiro in 2013, will lead France’s 396 athletes into the Maracanã Stadium as the world tunes in on the eve on the start of the judo competition.
Heavyweight king Riner becomes the third French judoka to act as flagbearer at opening ceremony of the Olympics as he follows Angelo Parisi (Los Angeles 1984) and David Douillet (Sydney 2000).
Judoka will also proudly lead the way for Algeria, Ecuador, Georgia and Kosovo respectively as their country’s leading medal hopes.
African Championships silver medallist Sonia Asselah will fly the flag for Algeria before Pan American Games winner Lenin Preciado guides the Ecuador team into the Maracana the night before he competes.
European Games winner Avtandili Tchrikishvili will be the first Georgian to step into arena while double world champion Majlind Kelmendi will lead Kosovo out at their first Olympic Games.
Stay tuned to www.ijf.org for all the flagbearer news as it is announced.
