Who will carry Canada’s flag into the PyeongChang 2018 Closing Ceremony?
It’s that time yet again, the moment in any Olympic Games when Canadians begin discussing and debating who will be Canada’s flag bearer at the Closing Ceremony.
So far at PyeongChang 2018, we’ve seen plenty of worthy candidates come to the forefront in a number of different events. But ultimately, only one—or perhaps, two—of them can carry the red maple leaf at Sunday’s ceremony.
Before the announcement is made, let’s take a look at some Canadian athletes who’ve put themselves in the conversation thus far:
Ted-Jan Bloemen
Ted-Jan Bloemen of Canada competes during the Men’s 5000m Speed Skating event on day two of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Oval on February 11, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea.(Photo by Vincent Ethier/COC)
He came to Canada from the Netherlands to win Olympic gold, and that’s exactly what he did in the 10,000m speed skating event at PyeongChang, setting an Olympic record in the process. Bloemen also won silver in the 5000m, becoming a double medallist for Canada just four years after moving to the country and joining the national team.
Kaitlyn Lawes/John Morris
Kaitlyn Lawes and John Morris of Canada compete during the Curling Mixed Doubles Gold Medal Game against Switzerland at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Curling Centre on February 13, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea. (Photo by Vincent Ethier/COC)
There’s no doubt Canadians love curling, and after seeing Lawes and Morris blaze to the first-ever gold in the newly introduced mixed doubles event, they might love it even more. Having a mixed-gender tandem at the Closing Ceremony would also provide some nice symmetry with the Opening Ceremony. Speaking of which…
Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada win Gold in the Figure Skating Ice Dance Free Program at the Gangneung Ice Arena during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea on February 20, 2018. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/COC)
Despite winning two more Olympic gold medals and captivating the world with their ice dance performance, the duo aren’t likely to nab this honour, on account of having already carried the flag into the PyeongChang Opening Ceremony. But if they were selected, would anyone really complain?
Mikaël Kingsbury
Mikael Kingsbury of Canada wins Gold in the Men’s Moguls Final during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea on February 12, 2018. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/COC)
He’s the best ever in the world at men’s moguls, but even top-tier athletes sometimes fall short on the Olympic stage. In PyeongChang, however, Kingsbury came through with gold to cement his legacy.
Alex Gough
Team Canada’s Alex Gough celebrates winning Bronze in Ladies Single Luge at the Alpensia Sliding Centre, in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Tuesday, February 12, 2018. The medal marked Team Canada’s first even luge medal in history. Photo/David Jackson
Luge was one of the few sports in which Canada had never won an Olympic medal prior to PyeongChang—but Gough put a stop to that. She won a bronze in the women’s singles event to break the Canadian drought, then helped Canada race to silver in the team relay alongside Sam Edney, Tristan Walker and Justin Snith.
Samuel Girard
Samuel Girard of Canada receives the gold medal for the Short Track Speed Skating Men’s 1000m final at the PyeongChang Olympic Plaza during the PyeonChang Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea on February 18, 2018. (Photo by Vincent Ethier/COC)
The 21-year-old established himself as part of the new Canadian vanguard in short track speed skating, winning gold in the 1000m, bronze in the team relay event and posting oh-so-close fourth-place finishes in the 500m and 1500m.
Kim Boutin
Kim Boutin wins bronze during the Short Track Speed Skating Women’s 1500m of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Ice Arena on February 17, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea (Photo by Vincent Ethier/COC)
The first-time Olympian became just the second woman in history to hit the podium in three different individual events in short track speed skating. She followed up bronze in the 500m and 1500m with a silver in the 1000m, becoming Canada’s only triple medallist in PyeongChang and the country’s fourth ever in one Olympic Winter Games.
