Canada's flag-bearers have world of experience

At first, Katarina Roxon thought it was just an interview.

- GILBERT NGABO

Katarina Roxon and Patrick Anderson will be Canada's flag-bearers for Wednesday's opening ceremony of the Paralympic Summer Games in Paris.

The swimmer from Newfoundland has been competing at an elite level for years, but didn’t think she was in line to become one of Canada’s flag-bearers for Wednesday’s opening ceremony at the Paris Paralympics. She and wheelchair basketball star Patrick Anderson had to keep the secret for a week before it was made official.

“When they told us, it was just a shocking moment. (We were) very surprised and very honoured that we were both chosen for this amazing privilege,” Roxon said Tuesday during a Zoom news conference after the announcement.

“Being able to represent Canada every single time no matter what it is — whether it’s Paralympic Games, world championships, Pan Am Games — it’s truly always an honour to get to represent the Maple Leaf.”