Para nordic star Wilkie, wheelchair curling skip Ideson named Canada’s flag-bearers for closing ceremony
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Para nordic skier Natalie Wilkie and wheelchair curling skip Mark Ideson will carry Canada’s flag into Sunday’s closing ceremony of the 2026 Paralympic Games, the Canadian Paralympic Committee announced on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Wilkie, who was one of Canada’s Paralympic flag-bearers for the Milano-Cortina opening ceremony, won two golds and four medals in total at this year’s games.
WATCH | Wilkie wins 2nd Para biathlon gold:
Canada’s Natalie Wilkie wins 2nd Para biathlon gold and 4th medal at Milano-Cortina Paralympics
After winning a medal of every colour, Natalie Wilkie of Salmon Arm, B.C., won gold in the Para biathlon women’s sprint pursuit standing final at Milano Cortina 2026.
The Salmon Arm, B.C., native now has 11 Paralympic medals to her name — five gold, three silvers and three bronze. She is the first Canadian athlete to be selected to be both Opening and Closing Ceremony flag-bearer at the same Paralympic Games.
She said the announcement was a “big surprise.”
“This has been a really special Games for me. It has been a really emotional Games for myself and a lot of my teammates so it’s going to be a really great way to end the Games,” she said.
“To be able to wave the flag physically and walk is going to be a pretty cool experience. I couldn’t think of a better way to end my third Games.”
WATCH | Wilkie reacts to winning 2nd gold, 4th medal:
Canada’s Wilkie ‘was pretty stressed’ before the final after claiming her 2nd gold medal
Natalie Wilkie of Salmon Arm, B.C., captured a fourth medal from the Milano-Cortina Paralympic Games, taking gold in the Para biathlon women’s sprint pursuit standing final Friday.
Ideson of London, Ont., skipped Canada’s wheelchair curling team to its fourth Paralympic title and first since 2014. The 49-year-old threw the critical last shots for Canada that secured their semifinal and final victories against South Korea and China, helping the nation become the first to ever complete the tournament undefeated.
Skip of the team since 2018, Ideson made his Paralympic debut in 2014 and now has two gold and two bronze medals.
WATCH | Canada clinches historic wheelchair curling gold:
Canada clinches wheelchair curling gold with controversial buzzer-beater shot at Paralympics
Canada’s wheelchair curling team needed a dramatic final shot to win gold at the Paralympic Winter Games.
He said carrying the Maple Leaf at the closing ceremony is “the biggest honour I could ever imagine.”
“It’s really hard to sum up this whole week,” said Ideson on winning gold and now being named flag-bearer.
“This is the culmination of a lot of hard work from a great group of people. We have the best team and the best staff and compete for the best country. I am incredibly proud and honoured to have been part of this whole journey.”
WATCH | Canada skip on gold-winning final shot:
Canada’s skip Ideson wins curling gold on final shot, ‘it was a heck of a game and a crazy finish’
Canada’s wheelchair curling mixed team made a dramatic final shot capturing the gold medal at the Paralympic Winter Games Saturday.
The Closing Ceremony of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games will start at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 15, on CBC TV and streaming on CBC Gem and the Gem apps. There will be an encore broadcast at 6:30 pm local time on CBC TV.
