RIO DE JANERIO _ Canada’s teenaged swimming star at the 2016 Summer Games collected another honour Sunday when Penny Oleksiak was named the Canadian flagbearer for the Olympic closing ceremonies.

“I’m super honoured just to be able to carry the flag for Canada and get to lead out all these athletes who have worked so hard to get here,” said the 16-year-old from Toronto who trains at Swimming Canada’s High Performance Centre-Ontario.

“I am going to be really happy and excited to carry this flag tonight.”

The announcement was made by Team Canada chef de mission Curt Harnett during a news conference attended by Canadian Olympic Committee officials. Harnett, a former Olympic medallist in cycling, said Oleksiak’s accomplishments have been celebrated in Rio and across Canada.

“She may be only 16 years old but she has shown that she is fearless, focused and an inspiration to all Canadians,” he said. “She exemplifies what it means to be an Olympian.”

Oleksiak excited a nation and became a household name by winning four medals in the pool at Rio, including a historic gold in the women’s 100-metre freestyle. She also won silver in the 100-m butterfly and bronze medals in the 4×100-m and 4×200-m freestyle relays.

The freestyle victory was Canada’s first Olympic gold in swimming since Mark Tewksbury won the 100-m backstroke in 1992.

Oleksiak is the first Canadian athlete to win four medals at the same Games and tied the late Victor Davis for most medals overall. She also is the first swimmer to be a flagbearer at a closing ceremony.

Ahmed El-Awadi, Swimming Canada’s chief executive officer, said being named flagbearer was a perfect ending for Oleksiak’s first Olympics.

“For Penny to be named flag-bearer is a tremendous honour for her as an athlete and as a person, as well as an honour for the sport of swimming,” he said. “Her performance gave all Canadians a reason to celebrate, and her swimming family is incredibly proud of her and her accomplishments. Watching her carry our country’s flag in the closing ceremonies will be a fitting end to one of the greatest Canadian Olympic performances of all time.”

Oleksiak said she is still adapting to being a role model.

“I have talked to a few girls and young athletes in general,” she said. “They have told me I have inspired them to take up the sport or get more interested in sport.

“It’s been a pretty great feeling for me just knowing there are people who look up to you. There are people who are trying something new because they see you excel in it. Just being able to be a role model is a pretty great feeling.”

Oleksiak tied with American Simone Manuel in the 100-m freestyle, setting an Olympic Games record 52.70 seconds. That timed bettered her Canadian senior and world junior record.

Canadian athletes won 22 medals (four gold, three silver, 15 bronze) in Rio. Canada’s swimmers took six medals. Kylie Masse won bronze in the women’s 100-m backstroke and Hilary Caldwell was third in the 200-m backstroke.

Jim Morris
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