Cockburn to carry Canada's flag at closing ceremony

Last Updated: Saturday, August 23, 2008 | 9:29 PM ET

CBC Sports

Karen Cockburn performs during the women's trampoline finals at the Beijing Games on Aug. 18. She won the silver medal. (Amy Sancetta/Associated Press)

Trampolinist Karen Cockburn, who has won medals in three consecutive Olympics, will carry the Canadian flag into Sunday's closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Games.

Canadian chef de mission Sylvie Bernier made the announcement on CBC's Olympic Prime with Scott Russell.

Cockburn, of Stouffville, Ont., won silver in the trampoline event in Beijing to become the fifth Canadian in a non-team or non-relay event to win a medal in three straight Olympic Games.

She shares that distinction with Phil Edwards in track and field (1928, 1932 and 1936); rowing coxswain Leslie Thompson-Willie (1992, 1996, 2000); kayaker Caroline Brunet (1996, 2000, 2004) and diver Emilie Heymans (2000, 2004, 2008).

Cockburn, 27, previously won bronze in trampoline's debut at the 2000 Sydney Games and captured her first silver four years later in Athens.

In Beijing, the Canadian's silver medal capped a hard-fought comeback after she tore cartilage in her right knee in October while preparing for the 2007 world championship in Quebec City.

She had surgery shortly after the worlds and only returned to the trampoline earlier this year.

Cockburn said she was excited and overwhelmed that she had been chosen to carry the Maple Leaf flag into the National Stadium on Sunday (6:00 a.m. ET).

"It's a huge honour for me to be able represent Canada and our entire team because there's been so many great performances," Cockburn said. "I'm going to have a huge smile as I walk into the closing ceremony tonight [Sunday]."

Kayaker Adam van Koeverden carried the Canadian flag at the opening ceremony in Beijing just over two weeks ago.