PARIS — Canada's flag-bearers for the Paralympic Games in Paris are a contrast of personalities.
Effervescent swimmer Katarina Roxon of Kippens, N.L., and dry-witted wheelchair basketball player Patrick Anderson of Fergus, Ont., will bear the Maple Leaf into Wednesday's opening ceremonies on the Champs-Elysées.
"I like to sneak into a party late and go sit in a corner and chat with one person," Anderson said Tuesday in Paris.
"That's not an option this time, I'm told. I'll let Kat lead the cheering at the pep rally. I'll be chilling in the corner if anyone wants to have a chat."
The 45-year-old Anderson, who has been dubbed the "Michael Jordan of wheelchair basketball" will play for Canada in his sixth, and what he says is his final, Paralympic Games.
"I remember my first opening ceremonies. It was very, very exciting. Then we missed a couple because we had to play the next day and it's a long, tiring day," Anderson said. "This time around, knowing it's my last Games, I decided awhile ago, whatever the schedule said, I was going to go to the opening ceremonies.
"So when they asked me to carry something while I'm there, I figured well I'm already going, it's the least I can do."
Roxon will be the first Canadian woman to compete in five Paralympic Games in swimming. The 31-year-old was born missing her left arm below her elbow.
Anderson will affix the Maple Leaf on the left side of his wheelchair, so Roxon can grasp the flagpole with her right hand.
"I'm very privileged and very blessed that I was chosen for such a big task," said Roxon.
"I was super-shocked and super-surprised to be named one of the flag-bearers. I know Pat from through the years. He's a very decorated Paralympian. To be able to do that alongside him, I feel very honoured."
Canada's team of 126 athletes will compete in 18 sports starting Thursday until the closing ceremonies Sept. 8.
Canadian athletes won 21 medals, including five gold, at Tokyo's Paralympics, which were delayed from 2020 to 2021 and held with no spectators because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anderson and the men's basketball team open against host France at Bercy Arena on Friday, while Roxon's first race is Friday at La Defense Arena.
"Because I'm from Newfoundland and Labrador, I told my family I want a Canadian flag, but I also want a Newfoundland and Labrador flag," Roxon said. "Honestly, it's the easiest thing I can spot because there's going to be loads of Canadians flags. There's going to be so many Canadians coming over.
"I'm so excited for that, but just to see that Newfoundland and Labrador flag, I'm looking forward to that. My mom says it's already packed in the suitcase ready to go."
The Paralympic opening ceremonies won't involve athletes arriving to the festivities on boats as was the case for the Olympic Games opener July 26.
Athletes from 184 countries will instead parade into La Place de la Concorde on the city's most famous thoroughfare.
Canada's Gov. Gen. Mary Simon will attend the opening ceremonies in Paris and meet with athletes in the village before the event, her office said Tuesday in a statement.
Anderson was born in Edmonton, but grew up in Fergus. In 1989, at the age of nine, he was struck by a drunk driver and lost both of his legs below the knee.
He led the Canadian men's hoops squad to Paralympic gold medals in 2000, 2004 and 2012 and a silver in 2008, as well as a world championship in 2006.
He's averaged 21.7 points, 12 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game in his Paralympic career.
Anderson has played professionally in Australia, Germany and most recently Bilbao, Spain, this past season.
He took a break from the sport and didn't compete in Rio, but returned to the national team for Tokyo, where Canada lost in a quarterfinal to Britain.
"I found myself surprised that I didn't feel a sense of completion, partly because the stands were empty and partly because we were close, but no cigar, getting into the medal rounds," Anderson said.
"I wanted to take another crack with this group of guys. That whole Tokyo experience, as hard as everyone tried to make it feel and seem like the real thing, something was missing in that experience. I wanted to run it back one more time."
Newfoundland's route 490 near Stephenville is named Katarina Roxon Way.
Roxon won 100-metre breaststroke gold in the SM8 classification in Rio and helped Canada to a women's relay bronze medal in Tokyo.
"We have a very, very strong team," she said. "We're all just looking forward to seeing how each one of us attack each and every single day.
"Absolutely anything is possible in the pool. The cliché saying is 'you have a lane. You have a chance.' It's so true. You don't know what anybody else is doing. You can only control yourself. Give everything you have."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 27, 2024.
Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
