Our picks for Canada's Olympic flag-bearer

CBCSports.ca weighs in on the debate

Last Updated: Friday, January 29, 2010 | 12:07 PM ET

By Dan Robson, CBC Sports

About the only honour Clara Hughes hasn't experienced in her illustrious Olympic career has been to be named Canada's flag-bearer. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)

It's a question of historical importance and a debate hotly waged.

Who will carry our nation's flag when the Vancouver Olympics arrive next month?

Members of the Canadian Olympic Committee have narrowed their list of candidates but are keeping it hidden, deep in their cave.

We've asked them for it. They've refused. Canada's flag-bearer won't be announced until Jan. 29, and we must wait like everyone else.

So, naturally, we created our own short list, which will undoubtedly infuriate many.

Here are CBCSports.ca's top contenders, along with our expert panellists' thoughts.

Clara Hughes

Clara Hughes (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press) Hughes is the only Canadian to have won Olympic medals in both the Summer and Winter Games. In fact, she's one of only four people ever to do it.

She brought home a bronze for cycling from the 1996 Summer Olympics. And from the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics, she added a gold, silver and bronze for long-track speeding skating.

The 37-year-old from Winnipeg is heavily involved in Right to Play, is a member of the Order of Canada and has an honorary doctorate of law from the University of Manitoba.

In sum, Clara Hughes is amazing.

Teddy Katz (CBC): "If you are going with sheer volume of medals in Vancouver — the possibilities are endless for (Kristina) Groves — that's why I might go with her over Hughes. In a way it's a bit of a tossup."

Tom Harrington (CBC): "In my view, the most logical selection. She's a gold medallist in Turin, a bilingual westerner, a companion of the Order of Canada, a Right to Play ambassador. Seems to be a no-brainer."

Scott Russell (CBC Sports): "Clara Hughes is also a great choice. In my opinion, the best choice. A senior athlete who goes beyond sport. She's won medals at both summer and winter Olympics and she is bilingual. She is a senior athlete. She has become a beacon for the Right to Play movement. She is also still a contender in the 5,000 metres."

Joe O'Connor (National Post): "She is a member of the Order of Canada, has a smile that will not quit, has competed at the Summer and Winter Olympics — winning medals in both — and does a tonne of charity work. She may even be a saint, but she won't be the flag-bearer."

Cindy Klassen

Cindy Klassen (Matt Dunham/Associated Press)Klassen won five medals in at the Turin Olympics (about 20 per cent of Canada's medal haul) — enough said, really.

But let's go on: Canada's Olympic speed queen had to overcome the near death of her sister, Lisa, after a horrifying car accident two years ago. Cindy skipped training to be by her sister's side as she recovered.

Then, that summer, she had to undergo surgery on both her knees. It has been an uphill battle on the oval course for the Winnipeg native ever since.

Add a bronze from the 2002 Winter Games to her Olympic resumé, and hand the flag to Klassen.

Katz: "Would be a good choice to honour her for what she did at the last games — but she did carry the flag in the closing ceremonies in Turin."

Harrington: "Her five medals in Turin were historic. But she carried the flag in the closing ceremony in Italy (deservedly so) and that almost certainly takes her out of the running in Vancouver."

Russell: "Cindy Klassen is a great choice to be flag-bearer. Hard to argue against her."

O'Connor: "Cindy Klassen, the Queen of Turin, has been there, and she almost did that. After winning five medals in Italy, Klassen took a bow at the closing ceremonies by carrying the flag."

Pierre Lueders

Pierre Lueders (Arno Balzarini/Associated Press) Vancouver will be veteran bobsleigher Pierre Lueders' fifth Olympic appearance. He owns two Olympic medals (gold and silver) for his efforts.

The thing is, the 39-year-old from Edmonton didn't become the best bobsleigher in Canadian history by being nice. Lueders is notorious for his brash outspokenness, which has put him at odds with teammates and officials.

Generally, this kind of crankiness is frowned upon by polite, timid Canucks. But this is, after-all, our Olympics.

Perhaps a competitive bloke like Leuders is just the example our athletes need to get them fired up in Vancouver.

Katz: "Canada's best ever in this sport but quite intense — perhaps not the greatest role model."

Harrington: "Logically, one of the world's best drivers should have had his shot at the flag in 2002 after his two-man gold in Japan. Though he did win a medal in Turin, the [Canadian Olympic Committee] may see him as too controversial."

Russell: "Pierre Leuders will be participating in his fifth Olympic Games. Arguably a great choice. There are issues, because he has ruffled a few feathers on the way to greatness."

O'Connor: "Old, wise, accomplished and cranky. Lueders was asked to carry the flag in Turin and turned it down. He will not be asked again."

Jenn Heil

Jenn Heil (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press) Heil won gold in women's moguls at the 2006 Olympics. At 26, she is making her third Winter Games appearance in Vancouver. And right now, she looks unbeatable.

Heil won four straight World Cup moguls events this season, before skipping the final race in Lake Placid, N.Y., to prepare for the Olympics.

Thanks mostly to event scheduling, Heil could be the first Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal on home snow. She hits the slopes on day one of the Winter Games.

This will be a big deal — and is probably a good reason she shouldn't be strutting around with a flag the day before.

Katz : "A good choice certainly if you are looking to honour the person who could be the one most likely to become Canada's first ever gold medallist on home soil or snow."

Harrington: "See Jean-Luc Brassard. The defending gold medallist, her moguls final is the day after the opening ceremony. Not a chance."

Russell: "Jennifer Heil is a wonderful choice but she competes on day one and it might be too much to ask to have her carry the flag and jeopardize her event."

O'Connor: "Jennifer Heil — perfect choice, but she will be flying over the bumps and jumps at Cypress the next day and needs a good night's rest, not a late night out with the Maple Leaf."

Hayley Wickenheiser

Haley Wickenheiser (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press) Wickenhesier is heading to her fourth Winter Olympics.

She led the women's hockey team to two straight Olympic gold medals in 2002 and 2006 (and grudgingly took silver in '98, after losing to the United States, an evil nemesis, in the finals).

The 31-year-old from Shaunavon, Sask., plays professional men's hockey in Europe and is swifter with a puck than you'll ever be.

Wickenheiser has etched her name in Canada's hockey history. She's a household name. A legend, really. And, perhaps, too obvious a choice to carry the flag?

Katz: "No chance, because Goyette was the flag-bearer for the last Games."

Harrington: "If not Hughes then Hayley. She's won two golds, including Turin, and is from the West. But her '06 teammate Danielle Goyette had the honour in Italy. A long shot at best."

Russell: "Hayley Wickenheiser is a wonderful player and role model. A women's hockey player carried the flag at the last Olympics — Danielle Goyette — maybe that works against Hayley's selection."

O'Connor: "Say hello to your 2010 flag-bearer, Canada. Hockey is our game, or so we say, and the Games are on our soil, and Wickenheiser is a woman (not that that matters) and the best at what she does."

Jarome Iginla

Jarome Iginla (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press) Jarome Iginla is kind of like the Hayley Wickenheiser of men's hockey. Gritty and tough, with a scoring touch.

The Calgary Flames captain is surely a worthy candidate to carry the flag, making his third Olympic appearance. He is one of the few remaining players from Canada's gold medal effort in 2002.

The five-time NHL All-Star is well-liked and highly respected. The only thing Iginla has against him is the $7 million he makes a year.

Insert any of the NHL Olympians here, really — Brodeur, Crosby, even Niedermayer — they can just buy their own flags.

Katz: "If anyone is going to be picked from hockey, I would say Sidney Crosby. … I think the honour needs to go to a true Olympic athlete who isn't in the spotlight 365 days a year."

Harrington: "One of the handful of players left from that magical 2002 gold medal team, Iginla is widely respected. But there will be many in the amateur sports community who won't be comfortable with a professional athlete being given the role. Plus a hockey player did it the last time."

Russell: "Martin Brodeur and Jarome Iginla are truly iconic hockey players. They both stake a claim here because of history and the importance of the game to Canadians. But they are professionals who play for another prize, which is more important to them — namely the Stanley Cup. This is a position which requires a truly 'Olympic' athlete."

Bruce Arthur (National Post): "Iginla is among the greatest players of his generation, and an admirable Canadian. But isn't hockey going to overshadow the rest of these Games enough as it is?"

Charles Hamelin

Charles Hamelin (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press) Short-track speedskater Charles Hamelin could win four medals in Vancouver.

He brought home a silver medal in the 5000- relay from the 2006 Olympics in Turin. Hamelin was dominant in 2009, earning his Olympic birth back in March.

He suffered a tough fall earlier in the season but is fully recovered and ready.

At 25 years old, Hamelin is young and experienced and may leave the Vancouver Olympics as Canada's most decorated athlete. Not too shabby.

Katz : "This is a similar argument to Jenn Heil … could win multiple medals and be one of Canada's first gold medal winners on home soil."

Harrington: "Short track has been one of Canada's most important Olympic programs since 1992 and Sylvie Daigle was the flag-bearer in Albertville. Though Hamelin is a linchpin this time around, he's francophone and it's not their turn."

Russell: "Charles Hamelin is a great choice and may win four gold medals — at least there is that possibility. If Canadians were to feel strongly that a contender for 'Athlete of the Games' should carry the flag, then Charles is the man. That would mean Kristina Groves should be added to the list — she too could win so many medals and is a wonderful role model."

Arthur: "The short-track speed skater could emerge as our most decorated Olympian of the Games. Then again, after his disappointing turn in Turin, does he need the extra pressure?"

Kevin Martin

Kevin Martin (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press) Kevin Martin had a chance to win gold but missed a final shot that would have defeated Norway at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Silver's great and all, but it was kind of a sad moment for one of Canada's greatest curlers.

Now Martin is back with a super team of Ben Hebert, Marc Kennedy and John Morris. Martin's team won both the national championship and world championship in 2008.

Martin has a shot to win the coveted gold in Vancouver. And who better to carry our flag than a bald, middle-aged icon of one of Canada's most beloved pastimes.

Harrington: "He has some juice as a western Canadian athlete in one of the country's most popular sports. Curling is second only to hockey as the winter sport most synonymous with Canada. But he's not had much Olympic success (silver in Salt Lake City) so he doesn't make it to the button."

Russell: "Kevin Martin is a great curler and represents a sport important to the country. He is, however, a professional in every sense of the word."

Arthur: "Bless him, and curling has come a long ways in terms of fitness, but I just think it sends the wrong message to send out a flag-bearer who looks like he's smoked more than a few cigarettes in his life."

Sara Renner

Sarah Renner (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press) Cross-country skier Sarah Renner won a silver medal in the team sprint with Beckie Scott at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

The 33-year-old will make her fourth Olympic appearance in Vancouver.

She lives in Canmore, Alta., with her husband, alpine skier Thomas Grandi. In 2007 Renner gave birth to their daughter, Aria, but was back on the World Cup circuit the following year.

She was the first ever Canadian to win a world championship in cross-country skiing and has won five World Cups.

Renner works with the David Suzuki Foundation and enjoys adventuring in the backcountry. A socially conscious champion, Renner is as "Canadian" as our potential flag-bearers come.

Katz: "Probably would be a good choice. But heck, Beckie Scott didn't get the honour before her, so I can't see this happening."

Harrington: "She simply hasn't done enough in cross-country to make the flag-bearer grade and it's a steep one."

Russell: "Sara Renner is a great role model, she has an illustrious Olympic history, but she may not be a contender for a medal at these Games, which might limit her ability to aspire to the role of flag-bearer."

Arthur: "Doesn't really have the level of past accomplishment of many of the other candidates. Doesn't really have a chance."

Mellisa Hollingsworth

Mellisa Hollingsworth (Christof Stache/Associated Press) Hollingsworth's natural star power just might put her obscure sliding sport on the map.

The 29-year-old skeleton racer from Eckville, Alta., is the overall World Cup champion for the 2009-10 season.

She cleaned up this year, making the podium in seven of eight races, winning two gold, two silver and three bronze medals.

Hollingsworth won Canada's first Olympic medal in women's skeleton at the 2006 Winter Olympics. She volunteers with Right to Play and is into rodeo and ranching. So, if anyone is going to make a sport called "skeleton" cool, it is Hollingsworth.

Oh, and she's one of Canada's best hopes for winning gold. The Olympic podium has her name on it. Canada's flag might too.

Katz: "Mellisa is another one of Canada's top hopes to finally win a gold medal on home soil, or ice, as the case may be. She has been one of Canada's most consistent performers this year and leaving the games without a medal would be a major disappointment."

Harrington: "The newly minted World Cup skeleton champion is a bronze medallist from Turin and, like Hughes and Wickenheiser, a westerner. This is not a prediction but just a sense that the Alberta athlete might end up with the flag at the closing ceremony."

Russell: "Seven podium finishes in eight races this season, a senior athlete, a medallist at the last Games, a Right to Play ambassador who has been to Africa and universally respected and liked by Canadian athletes."