Rosie MacLennan announced as Canada's flag bearer for Rio 2016 Olympics

Jul 21 2016, 10:27 pm

Canada’s lone gold medallist from the last Summer Olympics in London has been chosen by the Canadian Olympic Committee to carry the maple leaf in Rio.

Rosie MacLennan, who won gold in trampoline for Canada four years ago, received the honour on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was on hand to help with the announcement.

Image: Canadian Olympic Committee

Image: Canadian Olympic Committee

“I am honoured to have been chosen as Flag Bearer for Team Canada,” MacLennan said. “To lead my country into the Opening Ceremony makes me feel so proud to be Canadian. Joining the ranks of all the incredible athletes who have come before me is definitely a highlight of my career so far and one that I will remember for the rest of my life. I look forward to marching into the Maracanã stadium wearing the maple leaf, flanked by my incredible teammates.”

MacLennan performed the most difficult routine of the competition in 2012, earning a career-high score of 57.305 for Canada’s first-ever Olympic trampoline gold medal.

The native of King City, Ontario was probably the second choice to carry the flag for Canada at the closing ceremonies in 2012, but was passed over in favour of soccer player Christine Sinclair, who had a remarkable Games in her own right.

MacLennan will lead approximately 314 Canadian athletes into the Opening Ceremony.

This will be the third Olympic Games for MacLennan, who also finished in seventh place in Beijing 2008. She’s currently ranked fifth in the world rankings, and has a realistic chance at another medal.

“Rosie is awesome,” said Curt Harnett, Canada’s Chef de Mission for Rio 2016. “She epitomizes what it means to be a leader in the sporting world and has shown how sheer grit and determination can make you a champion. I look forward to marching into the Opening Ceremony with Rosie leading the pack. Enjoy this great honour Rosie, it is well-deserved.”

Previous Opening Ceremony flag bearers for Canada:

Year Winter/Summer Name Sport
2014 Winter Hayley Wickenheiser Ice hockey
2012 Summer Simon Whitfield Triathlon
2010 Winter Clara Hughes Speed skating
2008 Summer Adam Van Koeverden Kayak racing
2006 Winter Danielle Goyette Ice hockey
2004 Summer Nicolas Gill Judo
2002 Winter Catriona Le May Doan Speed skating
2000 Summer Caroline Brunet Kayak racing
1998 Winter Jean-Luc Brassard Freestyle skiing
1996 Summer Charmaine Crooks Athletics
1994 Winter Kurt Browning Figure skating
1992 Summer Mike Smith Athletics
1992 Winter Sylvie Daigle Short track speed skating
1988 Summer Carolyn Waldo Synchronized swimming
1988 Winter Brian Orser Figure skating
1984 Summer Alex Baumann Swimming
1984 Winter Gaétan Boucher Speed skating
1980 Summer Sue Holloway Canoe
1980 Winter Ken Read Alpine skiing
1976 Summer Abby Hoffman Athletics
1976 Winter Dave Irwin Alpine skiing
1972 Summer Douglas Rogers Judo
1972 Winter Karen Magnussen Figure skating
1968 Summer Roger Jackson Rowing
1968 Winter Nancy Greene Alpine skiing
1964 Summer Gil Boa Shooting
1964 Winter Ralf Olin Speed skating
1960 Summer Carl Schwende Fencing
1960 Winter Robert Paul Figure skating
1956 Summer Bob Steckle Wrestling
1956 Winter Norris Bowden Figure skating
1952 Summer Bill Parnell Athletics
1952 Winter Gordon Audley Speed skating
1948 Summer Bob McFarlane Athletics
1948 Winter Hubert Brooks Ice hockey
1944 Summer none Cancelled (WWII)
1944 Winter none Cancelled (WWII)
1940 Summer none Cancelled (WWII)
1940 Winter none Cancelled (WWII)
1936 Summer Jim Worrall Athletics
1936 Winter Walter Kitchen Ice hockey
1932 Summer George Maughan Boxing
1932 Winter Hack Simpson Ice hockey
1928 Summer Joseph Wright Jr. Rowing
1928 Winter Red Porter Ice hockey
1924 Summer Hec Phillips Athletics
1924 Winter Ernie Collett Ice hockey
1920 Summer Archie McDiarmid Athletics
1916 Summer none Cancelled (WWI)
1912 Summer Duncan Gillis Athletics
1908 Summer Ed Archibald Athletics
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