Team GB’s champion hockey captain Kate Richardson-Walsh says carrying the flag at Olympic closing ceremony in Rio is a ‘dream come true’

TEAM GB’s heroic hockey captain Kate Richardson-Walsh said it was a “fairy tale ending” carrying the flag for Britain at the closing ceremony.

The four-time Olympian, 36, was chosen after leading her unbeaten side to Britain’s first women’s hockey gold medal.

Kate and her partner Helen, 34, also became the first same-sex couple to appear in a Games final.

They had been playing together for 17 years but only got together in 2008 – when Kate called off her engagement to Brett Gerrard, the former captain of the men’s GB team.

She said: “There are so many athletes who have achieved great things in Rio and I’m incredibly excited to carry the flag.

“I’m very aware of the magnitude of this honour having been part of this magnificent team who have just excelled in so many ways and in so many sports.

“There are so many fantastic multi-Olympians and multi-medallists here I feel it’s such a huge honour for me and for hockey as a sport.

“If you could write a movie script with a fairytale ending, this would be it.

“However much you talk about working hard and believing that your dreams will come true, when it actually happens you still have to pinch yourself.

“It’s just been an amazing few weeks here.”

Team GB’s Chef de Mission Mark England said her success had “gripped the nation”.

Mark England added: “To captain the team to a first women’s hockey gold is an incredible achievement and befits a remarkable Games for Team GB here at Rio 2016.
“There is no one more fitting than Kate to lead Team GB into the Closing Ceremony in what has been the greatest British sporting triumph of all time.

“For 16 years Kate has been on this journey with Team GB and has embodied the values and spirit of our Olympians throughout her career both as a captain and an athlete.”
Organisers hoped to re­create Rio’s carnival atmosphere “with a little bit of nudity” and 200 dancers.
Tokyo, which hosts the 2020 Games, also had an eight-minute slot to highlight Japanese culture — including virtual game phenomenon Pokemon Go.

Team GB’s outfits tried to capture Rio’s carnival spirit by including illuminated shoes.

And with a nod to 2020, their jackets said “thank you” to Brazil in Portuguese — and “hello” to Tokyo.