Arguably the biggest sporting icon in Eritrea today, Biniam Girmay has been gifted the honour of being flag bearer for his nation in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games this evening.

Some of other notable sporting names lucky enough to have been given flag bearer honours for their respective nations include tennis star Coco Gauff and basketball icon LeBron James for the United States of America, fellow NBA talent Giannis Antetokounmpo for Greece, British diving star Tom Daley, Kiwi cyclist Aaron Gate for New Zealand and mountain biker Nino Schurter for Switzerland among others, putting Girmay in some elite company.

The hero of African cycling made history once again at the 2024 Tour de France, winning three stages, becoming the the first black African to triumph in the sport's most iconic race and writing similar records with his points classification victory, taking home the Green Jersey.