Canada to unveil Olympic flag-bearer Friday
Hughes, Lueders, Wickenheiser among candidates for honour
Last Updated: Monday, January 25, 2010 | 8:19 PM ET
The Canadian Press
Clara Hughes is the only Canadian to have won Olympic medals in both the Summer and Winter Games. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)The athlete who will lead the Canadian team into BC Place Stadium next month at the opening of the Vancouver Olympics is to be revealed Friday.
The Canadian Olympic Committee will announce the flag-bearer in Richmond, B.C.
Possible candidates include long-track speedskater Clara Hughes, bobsled pilot Pierre Lueders, hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser, visually impaired cross-country skier Brian McKeever and speedskater Jeremy Wotherspoon.
Hughes, 38, is the only Canadian to have won Olympic medals in both the Summer and Winter Games.
She brought home a bronze for cycling from the 1996 Summer Olympics and, from the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics, added a gold, silver and bronze for long-track speeding skating.
Vancouver will be veteran bobsleigher Pierre Lueders's fifth Olympic appearance. The 39-year-old owns two Olympic medals (gold and silver) for his efforts.
Wickenhesier, 31, is heading to her fourth Winter Olympics. She led the women's hockey team to two straight Olympic gold medals in 2002 and 2006.
McKeever, a visually impaired cross-country skier, will become the first Paralympian to compete in a Winter Olympics. The 30-year-old placed 21st at the able-bodied World Championships in 2007.
Wotherspoon, 33, is retiring from speedskating at the end of the season. The long-track star, a 15-year national team member, is widely considered the greatest sprinter of all time.
Hockey player Danielle Goyette was Canada's flag-bearer at the 2006 Turin Games.
The selection of the flag-bearer begins with the different sports federations recommending candidates. A committee within the Canadian Olympic Committee reviews the names. That committee consists of two athletes, a coach, the Games chef de mission and the two assistant chefs.
With files from CBCSports.ca
