Spence ‘beyond excited’ to carry flag for Canada
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA — Cambridge gymnast Emma Spence played a starring role at the Youth Olympic Games on Thursday, carrying the Canadian flag at the closing ceremonies in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The 15-year-old Spence, a Grade 10 student at Père-Renéde-Galinée, led a team of 72 athletes who represented Canada in 20 sports and earned 11 medals. The Canadian Olympic Committee informed Spence of the decision earlier Thursday. The decision was made by Bruny Surin, Team Canada’s chef de mission, and COC executive director Andrew Baker.
“I am beyond excited and honoured to be the flag-bearer for this amazing Canadian team which I have been proud to represent,” said Spence, who trains with Cambridge-based Dynamo Gymnastics. “The Youth Olympic Games have been so exciting and fun, and this is the best way to end this experience.”
Spence won bronze in women’s vault for Team Canada’s firstever medal in artistic gymnastics at the Youth Olympic Games. Her averaged score of 13.483 after two vaults in the final launched her to the podium behind Giorgia Villa of Italy (14.233) and Csenge Maria Bacskay of Hungary (13.933). In addition to her medal performance, she displayed tremendous team engagement and spirit, and actively participated in educational programs promoting Olympism and its values — an integral element of the Youth Olympic Games.