One of this country’s most decorated athletes has been chosen as Canada’s flag bearer at the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
Calgarian and Canadian women’s hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser will be the flag bearer at the opening ceremonies and will lead the Canadian Olympic team into The Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi on February 7.
Canadian Olympic Committee Chef de Mission Steve Podborski made the announcement on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday morning.
Wickenheiser will be heading to her fifth winter Olympics and sixth overall as she was a member of the women’s softball team at the summer games in Sydney, Australia, in 2000.
“I think to be able to carry the flag for your country is symbolic of the fact that you’re not only representing your country, yourself, your hockey team and the greater (members) of the Canadian Olympic team, you’re also representing every Canadian around the world,” said Wickenheiser, who wasn’t in Ottawa but spoke through a video conference call. “I’m just really proud and grateful for the chance.”
Wickenheiser also acknowledged the ample opportunities that women in Canada have to compete in sport -- not always the case in some countries.
“We are fortunate to live in the best country in the world and as a female hockey player and female athlete, we’re so lucky to have the chance every day to do what we love without prejudice and without so many obstacles that so many people around the world have to go through,” she said. “So to carry that flag is really that symbolism of the pride that we feel.”
Hayley Wickenheiser won a silver medal in 1998, and three consecutive golds in 2002, 2006 and 2010.
Wickenheiser, 35, has been on the national team since the age of 15 and is Canada’s all-time leader in goals, assists, points, games played, and medals won.
She returned to school following the Olympics in Vancouver and started playing for the University of Calgary Dinos for former teammate and now head coach Danielle Goyette in the 2010-11 season.
In university play, Wickenheiser amassed 115 points in just three seasons to become the program’s all-time leader and was named the CIS player of the year in 2011.
She was an All-Canadian in each of her three seasons with the Dinos and led the team to their first-ever Canada West and CIS championships in 2012.
“Hayley represents the very best in the combination of academic and athletic success,” said Ron Wuotila, director of athletics. “In her time with the Dinos she inspired all of us with her work ethic and dedication on the ice and in the classroom, and I know she will inspire the nation as she carries Canada’s flag in Sochi. We wish her and all of Team Canada the very best of luck.”
Wickenheiser graduated from the U of C in 2013 with a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree.
The XXII Olympic Winter Games are in Sochi, Russia from February 7 to the 23 and the opening ceremony gets underway at 8:00 a.m. MT on February 7.
(With files from ctvnews.ca)
