Thirteen-time Paralympic medallist Brian McKeever will lead Canada into the opening ceremony as flag-bearer at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
“It’s always an honour to represent Canada, and to do it at the Paralympics is why I have kept going with my career,” McKeever said.
McKeever owns 10 cross-country golds — along with two silvers and a biathlon bronze — dating back to his Paralympic debut in Salt Lake City in 2002. The 38-year-old from Canmore, Alta., can surpass alpine skier Lana Spreeman as Canada’s most decorated Winter Paralympian with a podium finish in Pyeongchang.
At the Sochi Games, McKeever earned three golds with guides Erik Carleton (two) and Graham Nishikawa (one). He now competes with Nishikawa, with the pair joining Mark Arendz and Emily Young to win a historic open relay bronze at the world championships last February.
‘We want all of Canada to know who he is’
The Games in Pyeongchang will be McKeever’s fifth; he was the closing ceremony flag-bearer in 2002 and also qualified to compete at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, but the cross-country coaches opted to enter four other skiers in the men’s 50-kilometre race.
“Brian is one of those athletes we want all of Canada to know who he is and what he has been able to accomplish as a Canadian Paralympian,” said Todd Nicholson, Canada’s chef de mission.
McKeever will lead 54 other Canadian Paralympians — the country’s largest-ever Winter Games contingent — into the opening ceremony on March 9. The ceremony will be broadcast on CBC 5:30 a.m. ET beginning with a pre-show before the ceremony itself starts at 6 a.m. ET. A prime-time broadcast will also re-air on CBC at 8 p.m.
“It is a privilege to lead these great Canadians into the stadium and it is a responsibility I won’t take lightly,” McKeever said.
“As athletes we live our lives in four-year chunks and I’m thrilled to be here. To be able to lead Canada into the opening Ceremony is a wonderful thing.”
