The Dunedin long jumper alongside swimmer Cameron Leslie were unveiled as the New Zealand team’s flag bearers for the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games.
The announcement was made at a farewell event in Auckland last night.
Leslie, a swimmer heading to his fourth Paralympics in Paris, was surrounded by friends and team-mates, while Grimaldi was on the big screen from her base in the United Kingdom.
Grimaldi was honoured to be selected alongside Leslie to lead the team out.
"When I was asked, I was really emotional," Grimaldi said.
"To have been thought of as a leader in this space makes me proud of how far I’ve come in my career.
"I can’t wait to get to Paris and carry the flag alongside Cam.
"It’s going to be one of the highlights of my career."
Grimaldi joins fellow Dunedin Paralympian Holly Robinson, who was the flag bearer in Rio in 2016.
Leslie, who was forced to skip the Tokyo Paralympics, said being asked to be the flag bearer was and honour and "incredibly humbling".
"I’m proud to be part of the history of the Paralympic movement in New Zealand and to lead the Paris 2024 team at the opening ceremony is going to be special," Leslie said.
"I know many people who have supported me over the years will be super stoked.”
Grimaldi, who won consecutive Paralympic golds in the T47 long jump in Rio and Tokyo, will again line up for the long jump as well as the 100m and 200m sprints.
Robinson, heading to her fourth Paralympics, will be looking to back up her gold medal she won in the F46 javelin in Tokyo and pick up a medal in her new event, shot put.
They will be joined by Dunedin coaching great Raylene Bates, who is the chef de mission for the 25-strong New Zealand team.
The Paralympic Games start on August 28 — the opening ceremony will be held on August 29 — and finish on September 8.
