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How Canada's flag-bearers performed at the Olympics

With Rosie MacLennan being named as Canada's Olympic flag-bearer, we look at how past honourees have performed in the year they carried the flag into the opening ceremony.

Results range from world records to major disappointment

Benjamin Blum · CBC Sports ·
Rosie MacLennan, left, demonstrates her flag-waving prowess in Ottawa on Thursday. (Jason Ransom/Canadian Olympic Committee)

By Benjamin Blum, CBC Sports

Making it to the Olympics is a tremendous accomplishment in itself, but being chosen as a flag-bearer carries additional significance for athletes — and pressure.

These Olympians lead their countries into the opening ceremony, inevitably bringing additional attention to themselves in the process. Whether this is a blessing or a burden is a question asked before every Olympics.

Now the focus will be on 2016 Canadian flag-bearer Rosie MacLennan. How will her Olympics stack up against her predecessors' performances?

Here's how the past 10 Canadian flag-bearers have fared in the Olympics after leading their teammates into the opening ceremony:

Simon Whitfield, 2012 London (triathlon)

  • Crashed during biking leg of race.

Adam van Koeverden, 2008 Beijing (canoe-kayak)

  • Silver in the K1 500-metres, eighth in the K1 1,000.

Nicolas Gill, 2004 Athens (judo)

  • Failed to qualify for the medal round.

Caroline Brunet, 2000 Sydney (canoe-kayak)

  • Silver in the K1 500, fourth of five Olympic appearances.

Charmaine Crooks, 1996 Atlanta (athletics)

  • Didn't win a medal, but it was her fourth consecutive Olympic appearance (fifth including her 1980 nomination when Canada boycotted the Moscow Games).

Michael Smith, 1992 Barcelona (athletics)

  • Withdrew during the first day of competition due to a hamstring injury.

Carolyn Waldo, 1988 Seoul (synchronized swimming)

  • Won two gold medals in synchronized swimming (one solo, one with partner Michelle Cameron).

Alex Baumann, 1984 Los Angeles (swimming)

  • Won gold medals in the 200 and 400-metre individual medley while setting world records in both events.

Sue Holloway, 1980 Moscow (canoeing)

  • Nominated to carry the flag, but Canada boycotted the Games. She later won silver (K2 500) and bronze (K4 500) at the 1984 Olympics.

Abby Hoffman, 1976 Montréal (athletics)

  • Didn't win a medal, but competed in her fourth consecutive Olympics.

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