After an amazing run in the pool at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, 16-year-0ld Canadian swimmer Penny Oleksiak will carry the Canadian flag into Maracana Stadium for tonight’s Olympic closing ceremonies.
Oleksiak said in a press conference on Sunday, “I’m super honoured just to be able to carry the flag for Canada and lead all these athletes who’ve worked so hard to get here.”
Oleksiak was named Canada’s flag bearer after she earned four medals in the pool during the first week of the Games, working towards two individual podium finishes and helping both the Canadian 4×100 and 4×200 freestyle relays take home a bronze medal each.
Her most stunning performance of the Games was a tie for the gold in the 100m freestyle where she became Canada’s first Olympic gold medallist in the pool since 1992.
Oleksiak’s gold was just one of four earned by the Canadian contingent in Rio. Opening ceremonies flag bearer Rosie McLennan took home a repeat gold in women’s trampoline, Derek Drouin won the men’s high jump, and Erica Wiebe took home gold in her respective weight-class in wrestling.
While three other Canadians were able to top the podium, Oleksiak earned the most medals out of any Canadian athlete at these Games.
Oleksiak’s four medals tie her as the most decorated Canadian Olympic swimmer in history, make her Canada’s most decorated swimmer at a single Games, and ties her as the third most decorated summer Olympian from Canada.
Penny Closing Ceremonies Ownage <3.
Katinka Hosszu, Pernille Blume and H.Luthersdottir have also been named the flag bearers for their country.
An amazing day for swimmers
Awesome! Happy to hear this!
She is awesome! I’m glad Canada picked her.
I also think she will be more marketable than Eugene Bouchard. And she seems to have a great personality.