Legends flag support for Sally

GOLD Coast-born Sally Pearson is front runner to be Australia’s flag bearer at this year’s Commonwealth Games, with unanimous support from current and former champions.

The Games’ committee will today announce which athlete will lead the nation and carry the Australian flag during Wednesday night’s opening ceremony.

Some of the country’s best athletes have had the honour of carrying the flag during previous Commonwealth Games, including netballer Sharelle McMahon, cyclist Anna Meares and swimmer Kieren Perkins.

Calls for Pearson, 31, to be added to that list for the Gold Coast Games have been backed with unanimous support from Perkins and other former Olympic legends Giaan Rooney, Tamsyn Lewis-Manou, Hayley Lewis and Tatiana Grigorieva.

Perkins, who was Australia’s flag bearer during the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games, said it was a credit to Pearson, who is currently being hampered by an Achilles injury, in the lead up to this year’s Games.

“I’d certainly be very supportive of Sally being our flag bearer,” he said.

“She’s been one of our most successful athletes over such a long period. I’m always someone who likes to support those that have had that longevity and consistency and Sally’s absolutely done that. She’s a Gold Coast girl too, so I figure she’s in for a good shot.”

Pearson has an Olympic gold medal, is a world champion hurdler and a local fan favourite across the country.

Three-time Olympic champion runner and former teammate of Pearson, Tamsyn Lewis-Manou, said it was a “no-brainer” for the Games committee to honour her with the role.

“She encapsulates what Australians love about their sport stars,” three-time Olympic runner Tamsyn Lewis-Manou said.

“I think what she’s done on the track is inspiring and that’s what you really want from a flag bearer. You want them to be walking out there, holding that flag and just really being an inspirational leader.

“She’s worked hard to come back from adversity and she’s a Gold Coast girl, it’s just a no-brainer.”

Other champions such as Rooney, Grigorieva, Lewis and Alicia Coutts also threw their support behind the hurdler.

“I would love for Sally to be our flag bearer,” Rooney said.

“I support anything that Sally is involved in and she’s such an incredible Australian. I would love to see her. I think that’s an amazing idea,” Grigorieva said.