Women’s hockey captain Marie-Philip Poulin and short-track speedskating star Charles Hamelin will be Canada’s flag-bearers at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on Friday, the Canadian Olympic Committee announced on Wednesday.
Charles Hamelin and Marie Philip-Poulin will lead #TeamCanada into the Opening Ceremony at #Beijing2022 @speedskater01 will be competing in his fifth Olympic Winter Games, while @pou29 will hit the ice for her fourth
More on Canada’s flag bearers: https://t.co/uybEo0VCzY pic.twitter.com/JhpfULI07U
— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) February 2, 2022
The 30-year-old Poulin, from Beauceville, Que., is competing in her fourth Olympics. She scored the game-winning goals in gold-medal contests in 2010 and 2014 before winning silver in 2018.
Our leader, our captain, our flag bearer for #Beijing2022.
@pou29 will lead #TeamCanada into the Opening Ceremony on Friday.
@TeamCanada pic.twitter.com/2yhLU7nBkW— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) February 2, 2022
“Being named flag-bearer, I feel like I need to pinch myself,” she said. “I’ve been able to watch Charles over the last couple of decades and watching him succeed, I will be very honoured to be walking besides Charles carrying the flag. When you watch the Opening Ceremony you see the smile and the pride in the people holding the flag. It’s hard to put into words but to now be the one with the smile on my face, it is truly an honour.”
The 37-year-old Hamelin, from Sainte-Julie, Que., is competing in his fifth Olympics. He has captured five Olympic medals, putting him one short of the Canadian record of six, held by long-track speedskater Cindy Klassen.
What an honour! We’re so proud that our very own @Speedskater01 will carry Canada’s flag into the #Beijing2022 opening ceremony.
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Quel honneur ! Nous sommes tellement fiers que notre @Speedskater01 portera le drapeau du Canada lors de la cérémonie d’ouverture de #Pekin2022 pic.twitter.com/9Ny6qCMKH4— Speed Skating Canada | Patinage de Vitesse Canada (@SSC_PVC) February 2, 2022
“Since the first time I wore the Maple Leaf, I felt that feeling of family right away. Going into my fifth Olympic Games, it is really incredible,” Hamelin said. “For me, that family is one of the biggest reasons why I’m still here and why I love what I do. Every time I would walk into an Opening Ceremony, I would look at the flag-bearer as a role model. To be named flag bearer is something I can now check off my to do list. Marie-Philip is an incredible athlete but more than that, she’s an incredible human. I see her as a leader and an inspiration.”
Canadian chef de mission Catriona Le May Doan and former speedksater, who was Canada’s flag-bearer at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, made the announcement on Wednesday.
“Carrying the Canadian flag is such a privilege and an honour. I still remember being asked to be Team Canada’s flag-bearer at two Olympic Games so it is truly special to be able to share this moment with Charles and Marie-Philip. They were chosen not just for their outstanding achievements, but for their leadership on and off the ice and how they have carried themselves with the successes and struggles of the past two years. They are incredible athletes and leaders who have and continue to represent the nation so well — a perfect choice to represent this resilient delegation.”
Figure skaters Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir were Canadian flag-bearers at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics and went on to win gold.
Hockey star Hayley Wickenheiser also won gold after carrying the flag in 2014 in Sochi. Wickenheiser became the second women’s hockey player to be named flag-bearer, eight years after Danielle Goyette did so in Turin before taking gold.
Hamelin is the second short-track speed-skater to be Canadian flag-bearer. Sylvie Daigle got the honour and then won gold in a team relay.
Poulin plays her first game at this Olympics on Thursday (Wednesday, 11:10 p.m. ET) when Canada faces Switzerland.
The short-track competition begins on Saturday.
