Swimmer Nicholas Bennett and para canoeist Brianna Hennessy have been named Canada鈥檚 flag-bearers for Sunday鈥檚 closing ceremonies of the Paralympic Games in Paris.
The 20-year-old Bennett, from Parksville, won two gold medals and a silver in his four races at the pool. Ottawa鈥檚 Hennessy was the first Canadian to win a medal in para canoe with a silver Saturday.
鈥淏eing the flag-bearer is such a monumental occasion,鈥� Bennet said Saturday in a statement. 鈥淏eing able to hold the flag and represent all the athletes that have competed is just another level of amazement for me that I have been able to achieve at these Paralympics.鈥�
The 39-year-old Hennessy has a race remaining Sunday before she joins Bennett for the closing ceremonies at Stade de France.
鈥淲hat a remarkable honour to be chosen to lead so many phenomenal heroes across our nation that have powered through so much adversity,鈥� Hennessy said. 鈥淭ogether, we are a symbol of an incredible celebration of our abilities in motion.鈥�
With one day of competition remaining Canada鈥檚 team of 126 athletes had compiled 29 medals, including 10 gold, in Paris.
Bennett, who is coached by his sister Haley Bennett-Osborne, won the 200-metre individual medley and 100-metre breaststroke and took silver in the 200-metre freestyle.
He competes in the S14 classification for athletes with intellectual impairment. Bennett was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age three.
Para canoe made its Paralympic debut in 2016.
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Hennessy was struck by a speeding taxi in Toronto at the age of 30. Tetraplegia from her broken neck impacted all four of her limbs.
She took silver Saturday in the women鈥檚 VL2 Va鈥檃, which is a canoe that has a support float and is propelled with a single-blade paddle.
Hennessy will also race the women鈥檚 kayak single Sunday.
鈥淭heir results in Paris speak for themselves, with Nicholas adding his name to Canada鈥檚 storied Para swimming history books and Brianna being a trailblazer for podium success in her sport,鈥� said Karolina Wisniewska, who is Canada鈥檚 co-chef de mission alongside Josh Vander Vies.
Swimmer Katarina Roxon and wheelchair basketball player Patrick Anderson carried the red Maple Leaf into the opening ceremonies Aug. 28 at Place de la Concorde.
Wheelchair racer Brent Lakatos was Canada鈥檚 flag-bearer at the closing ceremonies three years ago in Tokyo. Lakatos won a gold medal in the 800 metres in Paris.
The Canadian Press
