200m reigning Olympic Champion Andre De Grasse receives the honor to lead the Canadian squad as flag bearer at Paris Olympics

2020 Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Andre De Grasse will lead the 337-athlete Canadian contingent as a flag bearer during the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony. De Grasse clinched a gold medal in the 200m at the previous Games after clocking a stunning time of 19.62 seconds to surpass the American duo of Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles, who posted 19. 68 and 19.74 seconds, respectively.

Weightlifter Maude Charron, who secured a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the 64kg category, will accompany the sprinter as the female counterpart. Three years back, Charron achieved victory after displaying a 105kg snatch and 131kg clean and jerk. While De Grasse is all set to compete in the 100m, 200m, and men's 4x100m relay events, Charron will be seen competing in women's 59kg weightlifting event.

Unlike the traditional opening ceremonies, where the athletes parade through a stadium, the Paris Olympics will feature a twist, where each contingent will embark upon a flotilla journey, gliding along the six km route that concludes at the foot of the iconic Eiffel Tower.

Friday's opening ceremony is scheduled to commence at 1:30 p.m. ET and will conclude at 5:15 p.m. ET.

"It’s definitely overwhelming" - Andre De Grasse shares his excitement after being named as the flag bearer for the Canadian squad

Andre De Grasse will attend his first opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics 2024. (Source: Getty)

After competing at two Olympics, Andre De Grasse will attend his first Olympic opening ceremony at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

De Grasse was expected to arrive at the Games right before the athletics events, which will commence a week after the opening ceremony. The Canadian Olympic Committee shared the news on July 24, 2024.

In an interview with the National Post, the six-time Olympic medalist expressed his disbelief in receiving the huge honor, stating:

“I mean, I never thought that opportunity would ever come, you know, because of course being in track and field, we never get a chance to really go to the Opening Ceremony. So I mean, I’m excited just to even go and now to be the flag-bearer for the country! I’m speechless — I’m trying to get the words out,” De Grasse said.

“It’s definitely overwhelming, but I’m really pumped up and I’m really excited to try to take that on for the country and bring it home for Team Canada," he added.

Andre De Grasse will compete in his first event on August 3, 2024, in the 100m in Paris.