Maude Charron, Josh Cassidy named Canada's flag-bearers for Commonwealth Games

Weightlifter Maude Charron and wheelchair racer Josh Cassidy have been named Canada's flag-bearers for the opening ceremony of the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

Charron, of Rimouski, Que., is the reigning Olympic and Commonwealth weightlifting champion. She totalled 236 kilograms for her snatch and clean and jerk to win gold in the 64-kilogram division at last summer's Tokyo Games.

In 2018, Charron set a Commonwealth record in the clean and jerk (122 kg) in winning gold at the Gold Coast Games in Australia.

Cassidy, of Port Elgin, Ont., is one of Canada's most successful international wheelchair racers.

A three-time Paralympian, Cassidy has won the Los Angeles and Boston marathons and is a three-time Commonwealth Games athlete, having won a bronze medal at the 2010 Games.

"This is going take some time to sink in, but this opportunity is something that when you're starting out as an athlete, to be a flag bearer for a games is always recognized as such a prestigious thing," Cassidy said.

Team Canada Announces Flag Bearers for the 2022 Commonwealth Games!