Ana Gros, captain of the national women's handball team, and canoe slalom Olympic champion Benjamin Savšek will serve as Slovenia's flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in Paris on 26 July.

Announcing the decision, the Slovenian Olympic Committee said the pair were selected by the leadership of Team Slovenia based on their many successes and historic achievements.

"It was a difficult choice, but we believe that we made the right decision and that we have the support of the entire Slovenian Olympic team," the committee said.

The flag bearer selection process took into account that Slovenia will have three teams competing in team sports, the most yet. Team Slovenia includes 90 athletes, the biggest number at any Games so far.

Captained by Ana Gros, the national women's handball team is the first and only Slovenian female team sports squad to have qualified for the Olympics.

This year Gros also enjoyed a string of outstanding club successes, becoming Women's Handball League champion with Hungary's Gyor.

She is the top scorer and player in the history of Slovenian women's national handball and recipient of the EHF Excellence Award in the 2022/23 Women's Champions League.

"It feels incredible to be a flag bearer. I think it's every athlete's wish and dream. It's a great honour and I'm proud and happy to be able to represent Slovenia in the best possible way," Gros said.

With a steady stellar career, Benjamin Savšek, one of the country's best athletes, has won Slovenia the first Olympic gold in canoeing in Tokyo.

Competing in C-1 slalom, he has also won nine medals at world championships and twelve at European championships, of which eleven golds.

"I'm really happy and honoured to have the opportunity to be a flag-bearer at the opening ceremony of the Olympics. This is truly a lifetime opportunity," he said.

This is the second time Slovenia has two flag bearers after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, when the honour went to kayaker Eva Terčelj and table tennis player Bojan Tokić.