'I just want to keep pushing boundaries': Canada's Greg Westlake reflects on Paralympic career

Greg Westlake knows all about the highs and lows of the Paralympics.

As a forward on Canada's Para hockey team for more than 16 years, he's experienced the rush of gold-medal games and the sting of defeat, the camaraderie of the athlete's village and the gruelling preparation that goes into readying for the Games.

Now he's soaking up all the memories one more time as he competes at his final Paralympics in Beijing.

The 35-year-old from Oakville, Ont., grew up dreaming of gold.

Westlake was born with malformed feet and had both of his legs amputated below the knee before he was 18 months old.

As a kid who used two artificial legs, he knew early on that his odds of playing in the NHL were slim. But when he watched his country play on sport's biggest stage, he was inspired.

He started skating as a toddler and was still a teenager when he took home gold from his first Paralympics in Turin in 2006. He later completed the full set, winning silver at Pyeongchang in 2018 and bronze at Sochi in 2014.

He has a chance to add one more in Beijing, but already earned another honour at the Games, carrying the Maple Leaf alongside wheelchair curler Ina Forrest at the opening ceremony on Friday.

Being a flag-bearer was particularly special for Westlake, who's retiring from competitive Para hockey after this Paralympics.

WATCH | Forrest, Westlake lead Canadian contringent into Games:

"I think my body made the decision for me more than anything," he said of the move. "I'm just so proud of the body of work that's gone into it. It really has been a lifelong journey for me, from the time I was three years old."

Team Canada stumbled through its first game on the tournament in Beijing, dropping a 5-0 decision to the U.S. in group play. They'll