Olympic, world champion kayaker to bear flag for Canada
7/8/2008 17:20
Canada has named Olympic and world champion kayaker Adam van Koeverden as
the flag bearer for tomorrow's opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games,
according to a press release by the Canadian Olympic team in Beijing
today.
The entire Canadian contingent of 332 athletes will be led to march
into the Beijing National Stadium, dubbed the "Bird Nest" due to its unique
design, tomorrow evening. Canada will be the 63rd team to march following
Ghana.
There have been four roster changes to the Canadian Olympic team since
it was officially named on July 23. The team size grew to 332 total athletes
after the International Tennis Federation extended a quota position to singles
player Frank Dancevic, who is ranked 114th world-wide. Also added to team were
football's Jodi-Ann Robinson (replacing Amber Allen), baseball's Emmanuel Garcia
(replacing Pete Orr) and James Avery (replacing Scott Richmond).
Among the
332 athletes are members of five team sports that Canada has qualified for
Beijing, namingly the men's basketball, the men's water polo, the women's
softball, the men's field hockey and the women's soccer.
Nine athletes who
reached the podium in Athens 2004 are back in 2008. They are van Koeverden (gold
and bronze, kayak), Kyle Shewfelt (gold, artistic gymnastics), Alexandre
Despatie (silver, diving), Marie-Helene Premont (silver, cycling), Karen
Cockburn (silver, trampoline), Tonya Verbeek (silver, wrestling), Jake Wetzel
(silver, rowing), Emilie Heymans (bronze, diving) and Blythe Hartley (bronze,
diving).
Canada is also sending several current world champions in their
respective sports to Beijing, including Karine Sergerie, a 2007 taekwondo world
champion; swimmer Brent Hayden, 2007 world champion in 100m freestyle; Tyler
Christopher, gold medallist this year in 400m at the world indoor track and
field championships; kayaker Adam van Koeverden, world champion in the K-1 500m;
and the men's eight rowing team that took gold at the 2007 World
Championships.
The country's veteran leadership is most prominently displayed
in a number of athletes who have been to four or more previous Olympic Games.
They are led by equestrian standout Ian Millar who has tied a world record with
his ninth Games and rower Lesley Thompson-Willie who will compete in her sixth
Olympic Games, with four medals to her credit.
Others include trap shooter
Susan Nattrass (sixth), race walker Dr. Tim Berrett (fifth), slalom kayaker
David Ford (fifth), judoka Keith Morgan (fourth), tennis player Daniel Nestor
(fourth) and fencer Jujie Luan (fourth).
The 29th Olympiad will start on Aug.
8 and run through to 24.
Xinhua
|
