Rowing flag bearers at London closing ceremony

Damir Martin led the way for Croatia. Martin, 24, rowed as three-seat of the men’s quadruple sculls which finished with silver. Martin’s quad, which includes David Sain and Martin and Valent Sinkovic, has been together since 2009 with the goal of racing at the London Olympics and in that time they have become World Champions and also won a number of World Rowing Cup titles.|

Germany’s large Olympic team was led into the stadium by stroke of the men’s eight, Kristof Wilke. The German eight took gold in London which came on the back of a winning streak that began in 2009. Wilke, 27, has been in the eight since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

For a second time, Mahe Drysdale carried the flag for New Zealand at the closing ceremony. Drysdale also carried the flag in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics where he won bronze in the men’s single sculls. This time, in London, Drysdale, 33, became the Olympic Champion in the men’s single wrapping up an impressive Olympic quadrennial which saw gain a total of five World Champion titles since his first title in 2005.

Michal Jelinski led Poland into the closing ceremony. Jelinski, 32, has been part of the Polish men’s quad since 2005 when the crew became World Champions. The crew, which included Konrad Wasielewski, Marek Kolbowicz and Adam Korol, then won the next three World Championships and the Beijing Olympic Games. In London the crew raced in the A-final but did not medal.