Matt Wearn Paris Olympics: Why Aussie who competed in an event you've probably never heard of was first off the plane ahead of swimming's golden girls as team returned home Games team flew into Sydney on Wednesday morning Surprising athlete was chosen to lead them off the plane By Shayne Bugden For Daily Mail Australia and Sophia Mccaughan For Australian Associated Press Published: 03:31 BST, 14 August 2024 | Updated: 03:31 BST, 14 August 2024 e-mail View comments Aussies who expected to see one of the nation's Olympic superstars get off the plane first as the team returned home on Wednesday when one of the least-known members of the team led them onto home soil - but there's a simple explanation. Instead of double gold medal winner Ariarne Titmus , Jessica Fox or skateboarding record breaker Arisa Trew, viewers saw Matt Wearn welcome the crowd first after he won gold in the men's dinghy sailing event . It might seem like a bizarre choice to give pride of place to a competitor in one of the lowest-profile sports at the Games, but there's a good reason for it.
Both Wearn and swimmer Kaylee McKeown - who was next off the plane on Wednesday - were chosen as Australia's flag bearers for the closing ceremony . Three days after the curtain fell on the Paris Games, the pair led hundreds of athletes as they arrived at a rainy Sydney Airport to be greeted by friends, family and fans, and prime minister Anthony Albanese . Australia won 18 gold medals, 19 silver and 16 bronze for a 53-m.