Paris 2024: De Grasse, Charron to carry Canada’s flag at opening ceremony
Global News
Andre De Grasse of Markham, Ont., and Maude Charron of Rimouski, Que., will bear the Maple Leaf on a boat on the River Seine in Paris on Friday.
Decorated sprinter Andre De Grasse and weightlifting champion Maude Charron couldn’t resist the chance to carry Canada’s flag into such a unique opening ceremonies of an Olympic Games.
De Grasse of Markham, Ont., and Charron of Rimouski, Que., will bear the Maple Leaf on a boat on the River Seine in Paris on Friday, instead of leading Canada in the traditional athlete parade into a host city stadium.
“It’s wild. It’s crazy,” De Grasse said.
De Grasse of Markham, Ont., won gold in the men’s 200 metres in Tokyo three years ago and owns six Olympic medals to make him Canada’s most decorated man in Summer Olympic Games history.
Charron of Rimouski, Que., captured weightlifting gold in the women’s 64-kilogram division in Tokyo.
The Canadian Olympic Committee announced its flag-bearer selections Wednesday, although both athletes had known for a few days. They had to keep it secret from all but their inner circle.
“I feel like saying thank you is not enough,” Charron said. “From all of the great athletes we have, they only pick two. It’s just crazy.
“Everybody should be able to hold the flag for a second. Everybody has a story to tell. I’ll do my best, as always, to represent the country that helped me so much to become the person that I am today. With De Grasse, it’s just going to be amazing. He’s a legend.”