***This story was last updated at 5:50am EST
The three-member team representing Liberia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will enter the stadium July, 23 2021 at 8p local time. Four additional delegates will join them. In total, seven members will follow the flag, which will be carried by one man and one woman from the group.
Samuel Tukpah, the Liberian Chef de Mission, and an additional source informed Go Team Liberia that 100m hurdler Ebony Morrison and 200m sprinter Joseph Fahnbulleh will bear the flags. Morrison and Fahnbulleh are making their Olympic debut.
Tokyo enacted the dual flag-bearing system, in order to promote gender equality. In addition to Morrison and Fahnbulleh, Liberia’s Opening Ceremony delegation will include sprinters Emmanuel Matadi, two-time Olympian and current coach Sayon Cooper, renowned Liberian fashion designer Telfar Clemens, filmmaker Terence Nance, and the team doctor, Alaric Diggs.
Read on to learn a bit more about the athletes who are representing our dear Mama Liberia.
Ebony Morrison
26-year-old Ebony Morrison was born in Miami, Florida, and has been competing in track since the tender age of 10. She went professional and runs for TruFit Athletics after graduating from University of Miami in 2017. Morrison set an American 200m hurdles record long before transferring allegiance to represent her father’s native country, Liberia. She will be competing in the 100mH on July 31, 2021.
Visit athlete profile for events and results.
Joseph Fahnbulleh
Joseph Fahnbulleh, the youngest member of the team at 19 years old, is eligible to represent his parent’s native home, Liberia. He currently attends the University of Florida where he won NCAA Division I and set a personal best of 19.91 and won the silver medal at the SEC Championships. Fahnbulleh is currently ranked 20th in the world and will compete in the 200m on August 3, 2021.
Visit athlete profile for events and results.
Emmanuel Matadi
Emmanuel Matadi is the veteran of the 2020 Liberia Olympic Team. Matadi competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics and is the National Record holder for the 100m, the Indoor 60m, and Indoor 200m. Matadi played an important role in landing the teams sponsor, Telfar Clemens. He will compete in the 100m on July 31, 2021 and the 200m on August 3, 2021.
Visit athlete profile for events and results.
Greetings my beloved Liberians. I want to take this time to say to you all that have decided to this parth making mama Liberia proud, may God 🙏🙏 bless you all and victory hall be your portion in Jesus mighty name Amen!
Beloved Liberians in the diaspora, thanks so much for making our country proud. We are standing with you guys, and above all, God is with us to ensure that we become victorious In this fight.
Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas USA is proud of Team Liberia coach Sayon Cooper, who starred for our Wildcats as a sprinter. Best wishes to him for this amazing accomplishment of reaching the Olympics for the fourth time – twice as an athlete and twice as a coach. He is one of 39 ACU Olympians in track and field, starting with sprinter Bobby Morrow, who won three gold medals for the U.S. in 1956, the first year for a Liberian team to compete in the Summer Games. We will be watching and celebrating Sayon’s accomplishments in Tokyo.