Nine-time Canadian Paralympic gold medalist Benoit Huot of Longueuil, Quebec, has been named the Canadian Chef de Mission for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, according to the Canadian Press on Tuesday. Huot won nine gold medals in swimming for Canada at three consecitive Paralympic Games from 2000 to 2012.
Huot, who was born with club feet, won five gold medals at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, three gold medals at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, and one gold medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. Huot’s gold medals in Sydney came in the men’s 50 metre freestyle, men’s 100 metre butterfly, and men’s 200 metre individual medley. In Athens, Huot defended his gold medal in the men’s 50 metre freestyle, men’s 100 metre butterfly, and men’s 200 metre individual medley, and also won gold in the men’s 100 metre freestyle and men’s 400 metre freestyle. In London, Huot won gold in the men’s 200 metre individual medley for a third time at the Paralympic Games.
There will be three new sports in the 2022 Commonwealth Games. They are beach volleyball, para table tennis and women’s cricket. It is interesting that women’s cricket has been added and not men’s cricket. The 2022 Commonwealth Games are set to take place from July 28 to August 8.
