Maude Charron and Josh Cassidy named Canada’s Commonwealth Games flag bearers

Weightlifter Maude Charron and wheelchair racer Josh Cassidy have been named Canada’s flag bearers for the opening ceremonies of the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

Charron, of Rimouski, Que., is the defending Olympic and Commonwealth Games champion in weightlifting. She totaled 236 kilograms for her snatch and clean and jerk to win gold in the 64 kilogram division at the Tokyo Games last summer.

In 2018, Charron set a Commonwealth record in the clean and jerk (122 kg) by winning gold at the Gold Coast Games in Australia.

Cassidy, of Port Elgin, Ont., is one of Canada’s most successful international wheelchair racers.

A three-time Paralympian, Cassidy has won the Los Angeles and Boston Marathons and competed three times at the Commonwealth Games, winning a bronze medal at the 2010 Games.

« It’s going to take a while to figure out, but this opportunity is something that when you’re just starting out as an athlete, being a standard bearer for a game is always recognized as such a prestigious thing, » Cassidy said.

Team Canada general manager Scott Stevenson said Charron and Cassidy are « outstanding role models. »

“Both are top athletes, but equally important, they are each great people who set an example for others every day,” Stevenson said.

The Commonwealth Games take place from July 28 to August 8. The 12-day multi-sport competition can be viewed exclusively on CBC Sports platforms with six daily streams available on CBCSports.ca, CBC Gem and the free CBC Sports app.

CBC Sports will also air 10 hours of broadcast coverage as part of the weekend lineup, hosted by Scott Russell and Andi Petrillo.

Canada sends 276 athletes to compete in 18 sports and five parasports.