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Winter Olympics 2018: Jarryd Hughes to carry Australian flag for closing ceremony

Snowboard cross silver medallist Jarryd Hughes will carry the flag for Australia at the closing ceremony in PyeongChang.

Snowboard cross silver medallist Jarryd Hughes will carry the flag for Australia at the closing ceremony in PyeongChang. Photo: EPA

Jarryd Hughes will carry the flag and he’d like to think the best wishes of estranged teammate Alex Pullin with it, when he goes to Sunday’s closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics.

Hughes took out silver in the snowboard cross event and, on Thursday, was named flagbearer for the PyeongChang finale.

Pullin finished sixth in the event’s decider and did not personally congratulate Hughes at the time.

It was later revealed there’d been an ongoing rift between the pair and they had separate coaching set-ups to help manage the situation.

The issues dated back to before the 2014 Sochi Games and, among other things, related to funding and coaching.

Hughes said there was eventually some contact between with Pullin after last Thursday’s medal win.

“We saw each other later in the day and had a nice little moment and we’re just enjoying the whole Olympic experience …” Hughes said.

“I think he finally got to go home and see his mum and dad and his girlfriend.”

Asked whether he’d had much to do with Pullin since then, Hughes replied: “I’m just enjoying carrying the flag and being part of this team, so it’s good.”

Pullin made no mention of Hughes in a subsequent social media post in which he thanked his team and published a range of pictures of other teammates and support staff.

Hughes was happy to move on and said he was delighted to be carrying the flag.

“It’s a great little finish for an amazing Olympics,” Hughes said.

With five serious knee injuries already in his career, he said the aim was to stay fit for an extended period.

“Doctors tell me that me knee is never going to be 100 per cent and I’m probably going to have some problems later in life,” he said.

“But you only get to live your sporting career once and I will deal with that later.”

The 22-year-old was one of three medallists for Australia in Pyeongchang along with snowboard halfpipe rider Scotty James and moguls skier Matt Graham.

It is expected up to 31 Australian athletes will march in the closing ceremony.

-AAP

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