Flag-bearer duties add to McKeever’s ‘riches’ of Paralympic competition
PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA• Canadian Paralympic star Brian McKeever grew up without a television.
But days before the 1988 Winter Games opened in Calgary, his parents took their long-broken TV set in to have it repaired and the crosscountry skier’s Olympic love affair began when Canada marched into the stadium for the opening ceremony.
“You don’ t necessarily understand what the Olympics are at the time, but if it’s important enough for mom and dad to get the TV fixed, it must be pretty big,” said McKeever, who was in Grade 3 then. “So we watched the whole Games from opening to closing ... it’s always a big event, right?”
On Friday, the 10- time gold medallist will carry Canada’s flag into the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Paralympics, leading a Canadian team that is 55 athletes strong.
“I’m sure it will be ( emotional),” McKeever said with a big grin. “Everything about sport is, good and bad. And I think that’s partly why we do this, to experience all the stuff, and so I’m looking forward to seeing what happens out there.”
McKeever, who has never marched in the opening ceremony in his four previous Paralympics — his racing schedule has been too demanding — posed for photos after Thursday’s announcement at Canada Paralympic House. He draped the Maple Leaf around his shoulders like Superman’s cape, his buffalo plaid baseball hat pulled on backward.
“I’m a proud Canadian and I’ve been fortunate to represent my country on the field of play out there through a lifetime of sport that’s brought a lot of riches of experience,” he said. “This is something that you dream about doing and it’s actually a nervous time. I think I’m more nervous to carry the flag than I am to race.”
The 38- year- old visually impaired skier from Canmore, Alta., has owned the top of the Paralympic medal podium, going undefeated in Paralympic competition since 2006.