St Mary’s Alumnus Tokyo 2020 Team GB Flag Bearer

Alumnus of St Mary’s University, Twickenham, Moe Sbihi MBE has been selected as one of the two flag bearers for Team GB at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020.

The ceremony, hosted in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, marks the official opening of the games. Moe will be the Team GB’s first Muslim athlete to have the honour of carrying the flag at the ceremony, which show cases the athletic talent of each country. He will be joined by Team GB Sailor Hannah Mills, who is competing at her third Games, having won Gold at Rio 2016 and Silver at London 2012 in the women’s 470 event.

Moe was a sports scholar at St Mary’s whilst he studied Sport Science with Health, Nutrition and Exercise. He has been selected to row in the men’s coxed eight at Tokyo 2020, which will be Moe’s third Olympic Games, having previously won Gold in the men’s four at Rio 2016, and Bronze in the men’s eight at London 2012.

Speaking of his selection, Moe said “It is such an honour to be invited to be the flagbearer for Team GB. It is an iconic moment within the Olympic Movement - people remember those images. I certainly remember the images of Andy from Rio and even before I was a rower I remember seeing Sir Matt and Sir Steve, so it is something I am incredibly proud of.”

St Mary’s Head of Sport, Andrew Reid-Smith said, “Moe's achievements in rowing are significant and clear to see, but to have been invited to be the flag bearer for Team GB is an incredible honour. This speaks volumes about Moe, not just his performances and medals won, but who he is as a person. This is wonderful news and everyone at St Mary's is excited to see Moe leading the Team out at the Opening Ceremony.”