Wheelchair basketball player Patrick Anderson and swimmer Katarina Roxon have been named Canada’s flag-bearers for the opening ceremonies of the Paralympic Games in Paris.
Roxon, a two-time Paralympic medallist and Anderson, who has four medals under his belt, will lead the Canadian delegation at Place de la Concorde on Aug. 28 at 1:20 p.m. ET.
The Paralympic veterans, who have competed at nine Games combined, are just two of the 126 athletes who will compete in 18 sports beginning Aug. 29 until the closing ceremonies Sept. 8.
Anderson, 45, is considered one of the best wheelchair basketball players in the history of the sport. The Fergus, Ont., resident has led Canada to three gold medals and one silver in his previous six Paralympic Game appearances.
Roxon will compete Aug. 30 in the SB8 100-metre breaststroke, the same event in which she won gold at Rio 2016.
Anderson will hold the flag on the left side of his wheelchair so Roxon can have her right hand on the flagpole.
He was confined to a wheelchair in 1989 at the age of nine when he was struck by a drunk driver and lost both of his legs below the knee.
Anderson has played professionally in Australia, Germany, and Spain and led the men’s hoops squad to Paralympic gold medals in 2000, 2004, and 2012. He was also instrumental in the team winning a silver in 2008, as well as a world championship in 2006.
The married dad of three didn’t compete at the Rio Games, but returned to the Canadian team for Tokyo, where the team lost in a quarterfinal against Britain.
He has maintained an average of 21.7 points, 12 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game throughout his Paralympic career.
Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team co-chef de mission Karolina Wisniewska described the pair as being “among Canada’s most accomplished Paralympians ever.”
“Beyond their undeniable athletic achievements, they have been leaders on their teams for so many years, making a huge impact on the development of their sports and Para sport as a whole,” she said.
