Canada's flag-bearer: Could it be Evan Dunfee?
Some calling for 4th-place race walker to get the closing ceremony honour
By Aaron Stern, CBC Sports
With only one day until the Olympics conclude, the debate is underway over who should hold Canada's biggest honor during the closing ceremony in Rio.
This year's Olympics have featured some great performances by Canadian athletes, leaving room for plenty of discussion on who should carry the flag for Canada. Swimmer Penny Oleksiak and runner Andre De Grasse seem to be the favourites, but someĀ are making a push for Evan Dunfee.Ā They seem to appreciate the effort put in by the race walker in his grueling event, where he was rewarded bronze after a protest only to have it later taken away as the result of an appeal.
- VIDEO: Dunfee tells Ron MacLean what went down in race walk controversy
- POLL: Who should be Canada's flag-bearer?
Fellow race walker Inaki Gomez expressed support for Dunfee to carry the flag.
There's s'thing special about those who champion in character- <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDunfee">@EvanDunfee</a> has my vote! <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamCanada">@TeamCanada</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AthleticsCanada">@AthleticsCanada</a> <a href="https://t.co/O5MqjIPRtx">https://t.co/O5MqjIPRtx</a>
—@InakiGomezGDunfee played it off and declared his preference for wrestler Erica Wiebe
<a href="https://twitter.com/InakiGomezG">@InakiGomezG</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamCanada">@TeamCanada</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCOlympics">@CBCOlympics</a> I'd be worried that the flag is heavy, that's why I voted for <a href="https://twitter.com/ericawiebe">@ericawiebe</a>, she strong!
—@EvanDunfeeThe humble party continued with Wiebe putting the focus right back onĀ Dunfee
<a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDunfee">@EvanDunfee</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/InakiGomezG">@InakiGomezG</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamCanada">@TeamCanada</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCOlympics">@CBCOlympics</a> š you have leverage tho!!!
—@ericawiebeOne of the more surprising supporters of the Dunfee-for-flag-bearerĀ campaign is Andre De Grasse's coach.
If this is still a voted-by-athlete process, I implore all Canadian athletes in Rio to vote for <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDunfee">@EvanDunfee</a> for Closing Ceremony flag-bearer
—@StuartMcMillan1Clara Hughes even added to the DunfeeĀ train by explaining how Evan encompasses everything that the Olympics are about.
Must-see this moment where <a href="https://twitter.com/ClaraHughes_">@ClaraHughes_</a> describes how inspired she is by <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDunfee">@EvanDunfee</a> <a href="https://t.co/1YDxLhS2Bg">https://t.co/1YDxLhS2Bg</a> <a href="https://t.co/TQaWsXQQwv">https://t.co/TQaWsXQQwv</a>
—@CBCOlympicsIs it reasonable for someone who did not win a medal to carry the flag? Or should Canada go with a flag-bearer who made it to the podium? Tweet us @CBCOlympics!