PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA - Hartsville’s Mark Arendz will lead the Canadian Paralympic Team into the Closing Ceremony as flag bearer at the Pyeongchang Paralympic Games, the Canadian Paralympic Committee announced today. With five medals, Arendz has the most podium performances of any Canadian in South Korea.
“This is an absoltute honour and a privilege to receive the flag from my teammate, mentor and hero Brian McKeever to lead a record-setting group of Canadian athletes into the closing ceremonies ,” Arendz said.
Arendz has medaled in each event he’s competed in so far, winning five medals in both biathlon and cross-country skiing – a gold in the 15KM standing biathlon, silver in the 7.5KM biathlon, and three bronzes in the 12.5KM biathlon, 1.5KM cross-country sprint, and 10KM cross-country race.
“Mark has been one of the absolute standout stories of these Paralympic Games for Canada,” said Todd Nicholson, Chef de Mission of the Canadian Paralympic Team. “He has been one of the busiest athletes here in PyeongChang and to have won five medals including his first Paralympic gold is just unbelievable. He is a phenomenal Canadian, athlete, and person, and we are in awe of his talent and unrelenting dedication. Congratulations Mark! The team will be so proud to have you lead the way for Canada at the closing ceremony .”
The 28-year-old now has seven Paralympic medals as he entered these Games with two podium finishes already to his name – a silver and bronze in Sochi. Arendz still has another opportunity to medal here in PyeongChang as well, with the relay event on Sunday. He will take over the flag bearer honours from teammate Brian McKeever, who led Canada into the Opening Ceremony last week.
“I suffered a very serious injury as a young boy growing up in small town Prince Edward Island. My performance this week is proof to young boys and girls across this country that regardless of where you are from and the challenges in front of you – if you dream big and work hard in pursuit of your goals – incredible things can happen in life. Like Brian has done for so many of us, I hope the next generation of young Canadians see me carrying that flag in and are inspired the same way I was to chase their dreams!”
The closing ceremony will take place on March 18 at 8 a.m. Atlantic.
