BEIJING, China – Two of Quebec’s greatest athletes of the past 15 years will have the honor of carrying the Canadian flag during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on Friday at the National Stadium.

The Canadian Olympic Committee announced Wednesday that short track speed skater Charles Hamelin and hockey player Marie-Philip Poulin will be Canada’s flag bearers for the opening ceremonies.

Hamelin, 37, is in his fifth and final Games. For his part, Poulin, 30, is participating in the Olympics for the fourth time. Together they won a total of eight Olympic medals during their career.

“I couldn’t carry the flag with a better person than Marie-Philip,” Hamelin said at a press conference. She’s an incredible athlete.

“Doing it together is better!”

Figure skaters Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir were Canada’s flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. Basketball player Miranda Ayim and rugby player Nathan Hirayama received the honor last summer at the Tokyo Summer Games.

“I remember Tessa and Scott at the last (Winter) Games, flashing a big smile towards us. They were proud to lead the group. For Charles and me, it will be an honor to have all the athletes behind us,” said Poulin.

No Quebec athlete had been the flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games since 2006, when hockey player Danielle Goyette received this honor at the Turin Games. Short track skater Kim Boutin was Canada’s flag bearer at the closing ceremony of the Pyeongchang Games.

The paths of Hamelin and Poulin have often crossed over the years. They both train at the Institut national du sport du Québec at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

“I see it every day. The intensity and work ethic that this young man has is incredible, said Poulin with a touch of humor about his eldest. There are not so many words to say, but a look is enough. His work ethic says a lot.”

For her part, Hamelin noted that she followed Poulin’s journey closely and had the chance to attend the Olympic finals in which she helped Canada win gold.

A secret hard to hide

The two learned the news a few weeks ago, during a videoconference with the head of mission Catriona Le May Doan, herself a flag bearer for Canada in 2002 in Salt Lake City.

“I had a flea in my ear when I knew that I had a ‘Zoom’ with the head of mission, told Hamelin. When I saw that Marie-Philip was there too, it was confirmed in my head.

“I had my opening ceremonies in mind when I entered the stadium with the leader of the Canadian team. I see these people as inspirations, icons. I had tears in my eyes. I was a bit in shock.”

Poulin was also overwhelmed with emotions when she heard the news. She also noted that it was difficult afterwards to keep it a secret for so long.

“I am very close to my teammates. We tell each other everything, recalled Poulin. The more the days passed, the bigger my smile became.

She finally announced the news to her teammates on Tuesday evening.

“We had a meeting with Gina (Kingsbury, general manager of the Canadian women’s hockey team). the end, she announced it to the team. We were in a circle and everyone jumped up and we gave each other a big hug. It was a very special moment,” said Poulin.

Exceptional careers

Hamelin, from Sainte-Julie, thought it was his last Games in 2018. However, he decided to extend his career. He insisted that he is really on his last laps this time around, when he hangs up his skates at the end of the Worlds in March in Montreal.

“(The Olympics) represents the hard work I’ve had in my life, in speed skating. It was the love of my sport that triumphed because I managed to get through the years, managed to accomplish a lot in my career,” said Hamelin.

“The Olympics, for me, is also my family,” he added. I lived several Olympic Games, I met many people. When you are part of the Canadian team once with me, you are part of my family. For me, it’s family; to be together to triumph across the world.”

During his prestigious career, Hamelin won the silver medal in the 5000 meters relay in Turin, in 2006, the gold in the 500 meters and in the 5000 meters relay in Vancouver, in 2010, the gold in the 1500 meters in Sochi , in 2014, and bronze in the 5000 meters relay in Pyeongchang, in 2018.

A medal in Beijing would allow Hamelin to join long track speed skater Cindy Klassen as Canada’s most decorated athletes at the Winter Games. Swimmer Penny Oleksiak is the most Olympic athlete with seven medals.

A gold medal would also allow Hamelin to join hockey players Caroline Ouellette, Jayna Hefford and Hayley Wickenheiser at the top of the gold medal column with four.

For her part, Poulin has been one of the great ladies of women’s hockey for several years. She made a name for herself with her two goals in the final of the Vancouver Games, helping Canada beat the United States 2-0.

Four years later, Poulin scored the tying goal late in the third period and then the game-winning goal in overtime in Canada’s 3-2 win over the United States. The Canadians then won a fourth Olympic title in a row.

Poulin also scored in the 2018 final, but the Americans eventually won 3-2 in the shootout.

The Beauceville native will be the first hockey player to carry the Canadian flag at the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games since Wickenheiser in 2014.

The Beijing Games Opening Ceremony will take place on Friday, February 4 at 8 p.m. local time, or 7 a.m. Eastern Time. However, the first Olympic competitions took place on Wednesday, with the presentation of mixed doubles curling matches.