Petitclerc & Vancouver's Donovan Tildesley finalists for flag-bearer duty
  
Canwest News Service
Monday, August 25, 2008


CREDIT: Reuters/Dylan Martinez
Canada's Chantal Petitclerc reacts as she wins in the women's 1500 metres wheelchair finals at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championship in Osaka September 1, 2007.

OTTAWA - Five-time Paralympian Chantal Petitclerc was named Monday as one of three finalists for the honour of being Canadian flag-bearer for the 2008 Paralympic Games.

The 38-year-old wheelchair racer from Montreal has won 10 gold, four silver and two bronze medals at her previous four Paralympic Games appearances.

Canada is sending a team of 143 athletes to the Beijing Paralympics, which run from Sept. 6-17.

Also named as a finalist to carry the Canadian flag into Beijing's National Stadium is boccia player Paul Gauthier and swimmer Donovan Tildesley, both of Vancouver.

Donovan Tildesley
Check out Donovan's Dad's Hugh Tildesley's webblog for all the details
http://hughtildesleyinbeijing.blogspot.com/


The final announcement will be made on_Sept. 4.

Gauthier will be competing in his fourth Paralympic Games, while Tildesley will be competing in his third career Games.

"It's a great honour to be in the top three as a potential flag-bearer for Canada," said Petitclerc, who was Canada's flag-bearer for the closing of the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens.

"In such great company, I'll be proud of whoever has the privilege to represent the team. The Paralympic movement is getting stronger and stronger every four years, and we are sending a competitive team again this year. Entering the Bird's Nest will be an amazing experience."

Both Petitclerc and Tildesley will retire after the Games, which will use many of the same facilities as the Olympic Games.

"What better way to cap an eight-year run with the national swim team than to represent Canada, not only in the pool but also as flag-bearer?" said Tildesley, a swimmer with a visual impairment.

Gauthier, an athlete with cerebral palsy, is the defending Paralympic and world champion in the BC3 boccia singles competition. He won Canada's first medal in boccia at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens.

The 37-year-old called it an honour to be considered a finalist to carry the flag and to be "part of an amazing Canadian contingent is always a thrill."

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=407f4957-a140-4395-8112-45491330981d