Swimmer Bennett, canoeist Hennessy to carry Canadian flag at Paralympic closing ceremony

Paralympic medallists Nicholas Bennett and Brianna Hennessy will carry the Canadian flag during Sunday's closing ceremony in Paris.

Bennett, a swimmer, won Canada's first gold medal in Paris — one of three total medals he's headed home with, also including another gold and a silver.

The 20-year-old from Parksville, B.C., who has an intellectual impairment, became the first Canadian male swimmer to win multiple golds at one Games since 2004.

"Being the flag bearer is such a monumental occasion," he said Bennett. "Being able to hold the flag and represent all the athletes that have competed is just another level of amazement for me that I have been able to achieve at these Paralympics."

Hennessy, a Para canoeist, took silver in her first race on Saturday and can reach the podium again in her final event on Sunday.

The 39-year-old from Ottawa only took up her sport during the pandemic. After failing to reach the podium at Tokyo 2020, she'll return home from Paris with her first Paralympic hardware.

"What a remarkable honour to be chosen to lead so many phenomenal heroes across our nation that have powered through so much adversity," she said.

"Together, we are a symbol of an incredible celebration of our abilities in motion. We are one heartbeat, that I would describe as a magnificent phoenix rising up from the ashes, whose courage soars past all obstacles in its path – its feathers shimmering with bright Canada red and white feathers in its wings.

"Tomorrow we will celebrate being proudly Canadian as one big team."

Canada's 126-athlete team completed one of its best medal hauls in recent Paralympic Games.

Swimmer Katarina Roxon and wheelchair basketball player Patrick Anderson carried the red Maple Leaf into the opening ceremonies.

Wheelchair racer Brent Lakatos of Dorval, Que., was Canada's flag-bearer for Tokyo's closing ceremonies three years ago. He won a gold medal in the 800 metres in Paris.

CBC's live coverage of the closing ceremony from the Stade de France, starting at 1:50 p.m. ET (10:50 a.m. PT), will be hosted by Scott Russell.

Watch live on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC News Network, CBC's Paris 2024 website and the CBC Paris 2024 app for iOS and Android devices. CBC will be offering an ASL feed on CBC Gem and the Paris 2024 website.

An encore broadcast will air at 7 ET (4 p.m. PT) on CBC TV, or you can stream it on Gem for up to 24 hours.