Basketball player Pat Anderson and swimmer Katarina Roxon, who have competed at a combined nine Paralympics, will lead Canada’s delegation at Wednesday’s opening ceremony at 1:20 p.m. ET at Place de la Concorde, the largest square in Paris.
Announced Tuesday as flag-bearers, they are part of the 126-member Canadian team looking to build upon 21 medals, including five gold, earned three years ago at the Tokyo Paralympics.
It’ll mark the sixth and final Games for 45-year-old Anderson, who has captured three gold medals and a silver, dating to the 2000 event in Sydney.
“This is a big honour and special thing,” Anderson stated in a Canadian Paralympic Committee news release. “This is a special country and an opportunity to represent wheelchair basketball in front of the world and the entire Canadian Paralympic Team.
“It was very much a surprise. I’ve been chosen, and I will step up. It’s going to be really cool.”
For Roxon, 31, she will become the first Canadian female swimmer to compete at five Paralympics, 16 years after her 2008 debut in Beijing.
“I don’t think it’s actually set in yet,” said Roxon. “When I was told about this, I was super excited that I would even be thought of among all the amazing athletes that Canada has. To see where I started out from, little baby Katarina in 2008 at the Games to now here at my fifth Games as a well-versed veteran, to be named as one of the flag bearers is such a huge honour and a huge privilege.”
Anderson and his wheelchair basketball teammates qualified for Paris in April with a 72-60 victory over Italy at a men’s repechage tournament in Antibes, France.
WATCH | Anderson, teammates book ticket to Paris Paralympics:
Canada defeated Italy 72-60 Monday at a last-chance Paralympic qualifier in Antibes, France, securing a berth at the Paris Paralympics.
The Canadian squad, which has appeared at each Games since 1968, is aiming for its first gold since 2012 in London after being crowned Paralympic champions in 2000 and 2004. Anderson also picked up a silver medal in 2008.
“Going way back [to my first Games in Sydney] we definitely knew we had a chance to win a gold medal and we knew we were one of the best teams there,” Anderson told reporters during a recent Zoom call from Europe. “We were very confident. We were young, we were hungry, we hadn’t won anything yet.
“This team is also kind of young and hungry but we’re definitely middle of the pack and … we have to take it one step at a time and get better as the tournament goes on.”
Last fall, Anderson averaged 17.8 points per game in leading Canada to Parapan Am bronze in Santiago, Chile, and helping it secure a spot at the last-chance Paralympic qualifier in Antibes.
Post-Paris, the father of three who was born in Edmonton and raised in Fergus, Ont., would like to give back to the game of wheelchair basketball.
“I’m grateful that I’ve hung around long enough to meet and play with and against a new generation of great talent,” said Anderson, who lost both legs below the knee in a 1989 accident.
Passion for creating music
“Not just witness the evolution of the game but be part of it, be in the mix and bang up against these athletes that I really admire and enjoy watching.”
Before returning to his other passions of motivational public speaking and creating music with his wife, Anna, and their band The Lay Awakes, Anderson will begin his pursuit of another Paralympic medal on Friday against France at Bercy Arena in Paris.
Roxon of Corner Brook, N.L., also opens her Games on Friday in the women’s SB8 100-metre breaststroke and will race the 200m event on Sept. 5.
Recently, the two-time Paralympic medallist told CBC News the nerves before a swimming competition will probably never go away. However, those nerves are mixed with excitement.
“It’s always super-exciting to represent your family, your town, your province, your country on whatever stage it is,” said Roxon, who was born with her left arm missing below her elbow.
WATCH | Roxon on her 5th Paralympics: ‘It’s super humbling’:
Katarina Roxon debuted in swimming at the Paralympic Games for the first time when she was just 15 years old. Today, the pride of Kippens, N.L., is preparing for her fifth Games. The CBC’s Arlette Lazarenko caught up with the Team Canada veteran just a few days before her journey to Paris.
In her 2008 Paralympic debut, 15-year-old Roxon was the youngest swimmer on the Canadian team in Beijing and placed 12th in the 100m breaststroke.
She climbed seven spots to fifth four years later in London before earning her first Paralympic medal and winning the 100m breaststroke in Canadian record time at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio.
Three years ago in Tokyo, Roxon was fourth in the breaststroke and took bronze in the team event.
“Every experience is different. It’s always a learning lesson,” said Roxon, who lives in Kippens, N.L. “I’m a veteran [with this team] so I’m looking to have fun and hit my goals.”
Unlike previous Games, Roxon’s family, partner and friends will be with her in Paris.
“I’m grateful for the support, it goes such a long way,” said Roxon, a bronze medallist at the 2022 and 2023 world championships. “I’ve had so much support over the last 20 years. I’m blessed that people want me to do well.”
Added Canada co-chef de mission Karolina Wisniewska: “Katarina and Pat are both such deserving recipients of this honour. They are among Canada’s most accomplished Paralympians ever.
“Beyond their undeniable athletic achievements, they have been leaders on their teams for so many years, making a huge impact on the development of their sports and Para sport as a whole.”
WATCH | Canada’s Paralympic chefs de mission join CBC Sports:
CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux chats with Canada’s co-chefs de mission, Karolina Wisniewska and Josh Vander Vies, about leading the team to the 2024 Paris Paralympics.