RIO DE JANEIRO-Penny Oleksiak capped a memorable Summer Olympics as Canada’s flag-bearer at Sunday’s closing ceremony of the Rio Games.
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The 16-year-old phenom won four medals, including Canada’s first gold of the games, making her Canada’s most decorated swimmer at a single Olympic games.
Dressed in a Canada jacket and wearing one of her medals, Oleksiak said she was really excited to be back home.
The chef de mission of the Canadian team in Rio believes there was a Pan Am effect at work.
“We’ll also definitely be respectful and give her her space”, she added.
“Just to be able to know that you’re an inspiration to kids and everything, it’s a pretty great feeling”. “I just want to say thank you to everyone (who cheered for me)”.
The Olympic medallist, whose performance this summer has made her a household name, said she is grateful for the support Canadians have shown her and other athletes.
Residents in Oleksiak’s east-end Toronto neighbourhood are planning a celebration for her return, tentatively planned for August 28.
A board member of the Beach Village Business Improvement Area, says the group has applied for a permit to hold a big party for Oleksiak and other athletes who have lived in the neighbourhood, with live music.
MacLennan, who was Canada’s flagbearer at the opening ceremony, said she was looking forward to putting her “feet up a little bit” now that’s she home.
AM980 will have a reporter at the London International Airport to follow the excitement.
Lawrence’s teammate Jessie Fleming said she was proud of their performance.
Penny Oleksiak led Canada to the podium four times at the Rio Olympics.
Drouin’s gold was amongst six medals won in track and field.
Lagging behind their winter counterparts since the turn of the century, the 22 medals won by Canadians is equal to the most at a non-boycotted Games after Atlanta in 1996.
Rio 2016 trampoline gold medallist Rosie MacLennan arrives at Pearson International Airport on August 23, 2016.
Three hours later, the 16-year-old twins were rewarded with an autograph from Kadeisha Buchanan, one of the bronze medal-winning women’s soccer players.
The largest single contributor to Canada’s Olympic teams are taxpayers, with the federal government giving $200 million in 2015 to support athletes and host global events for them.
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“That’s where I think we first saw the change in the belief on the team that we can race with anybody”, he said.
