Canadian Olympic gold medalists Summer McIntosh of Toronto, Ontario and Ethan Katzberg of Nanaimo, British Columbia will carry the flag in the closing ceremonies of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. McIntosh became the first Canadian ever to win three Olympic medals at a single Olympic Games. She placed first in the women’s 200 metre butterfly, 200 metre individual medley, and women’s 400 metre individual medley. McIntosh began the Paris Olympic Games with a silver medal in the women’s 400 metre freestyle for four medals overall.
McIntosh is only 17 years old, and has an incredibly bright future ahead. One must realize that one of McIntosh’s biggest rivals is currently American Katie Ledecky, who is a full decade older than McIntosh. Ledecky will be the American female flag bearer for the United States in the closing ceremonies.
Still, the decision for McIntosh is interesting when you consider the fact she already flew home to Toronto, and is now coming back. Swimmer Penny Oleksiak, also of Toronto, did the same thing leading up to the closing ceremonies of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Katzberg, meanwhile, became Canada’s first Olympic hammer throw medalist in 112 years. In all Canada had 27 medals (nine gold medals, seven silver medals, and 11 bronze medals), and finished in 11th place in the overall medal standings.
