Canada’s Paralympic Flag-Bearers Announced: Anderson representing basketball, Roxon representing swimming
Wheelchair basketball player Patrick Anderson and swimmer Katarina Roxon have been chosen as Canada’s flag-bearers for the opening ceremonies of the Paralympic Games in Paris.
Roxon, a two-time Paralympic medalist, and Anderson, with four medals to his name, will lead the Canadian delegation at Place de la Concorde on Aug. 28 at 1:20 p.m. ET.
These Paralympic veterans, who have participated in a total of nine Games between them, are just two of the 126 athletes competing in 18 sports starting from Aug. 29 until the closing ceremonies on Sept. 8.
Anderson, a 45-year-old from Fergus, Ont., is renowned as one of the greatest wheelchair basketball players in the sport’s history. He has guided Canada to three gold medals and one silver in his previous six Paralympic appearances.
Katarina Roxon competes in the Women’s 100m Freestyle S9 heat during the swimming at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, July 29, 2022.The Canadian Press/AP-Kirsty Wigglesworth
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Roxon will be competing in the SB8 100-metre breaststroke event on Aug. 30, the same event in which she clinched gold at Rio 2016.
Despite her extensive history with Canada’s Paralympic team, Roxon expressed her surprise at being named a flag bearer.
“When I received the news, I was incredibly excited to be considered among all of the amazing athletes that Canada has,” she said in the statement. “To reflect on where I began, as a young athlete in 2008 at the Games to now being at my fifth Games as a seasoned veteran, being selected as one of the flag bearers is a tremendous honor and privilege.”
Anderson will position the flag on the left side of his wheelchair so that Roxon can hold onto the flag pole with her right hand.
Karolina Wisniewska, the co-chef de mission for the Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team, described the duo as “among Canada’s most accomplished Paralympians ever.”
“Beyond their exceptional athletic accomplishments, they have been leaders on their teams for many years, contributing significantly to the growth of their sports and Para sport in general,” Wisniewska added.
In 1989, at the age of nine, Anderson was left wheelchair-bound after a drunk driving accident that resulted in the loss of both his legs below the knees.
Anderson has played professionally in Australia, Germany, and Spain, leading his team to Paralympic gold medals in 2000, 2004, and 2012. He also played a vital role in securing a silver in 2008, as well as a world championship victory in 2006.
The father of three did not participate in the Rio Games but returned to represent Canada in Tokyo, where the team was defeated in the quarterfinals by Britain.
Throughout his Paralympic career, Anderson has averaged 21.7 points, 12 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
