Natalie Wilkie and Tyler McGregor to Lead Canada into the Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games
Natalie Wilkie and Tyler McGregor have been selected as Canada’s opening ceremony flag-bearers for the Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, a moment both athletes described as a profound surprise and immense honour. The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) orchestrated a delightful deception, leading both Wilkie and McGregor to believe they were attending routine media interviews.
Instead, they were greeted by CPC chief sport officer Catherine Gosselin-Despres and Milan Cortina 2026 honorary captain Mac Marcoux, who delivered the exciting news on March 6th. “It was shocking, I think to both of us,” said McGregor, co-captain of the para hockey team. “But we were so pleased to receive that call, and it was an exciting time for sure.”
A Dream Realized for Nordic Skiing Star Natalie Wilkie
For Wilkie, a celebrated nordic skiing star, the possibility of being named flag bearer hadn’t even crossed her mind. “This is something that I’ve been dreaming of for a long time. And it’s not something that I ever expected to happen. When I got the news, I was pretty shocked. I was so focused on Paralympic prep and everything that I hadn’t really given the thought of flag-bearer,” she explained.
Gosselin-Despres highlighted the careful planning involved in the surprise reveal. “It’s always a great part of our job to be able to do that,” she said. “We rehearsed a little bit and then waited for their reaction… It’s just the best part of what we do, selecting flag-bearers. And we couldn’t have better candidates.”
A Unique Opening Ceremony Experience
The opening ceremony will be held at the Arena Di Verona, the same venue used for the Olympics closing ceremony. However, due to Verona not being a competition venue for the Paralympics, Wilkie and McGregor will carry the flags within their respective athlete villages. Wilkie will compete in Tesero, near Cortina, while McGregor will take to the ice at the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena, the same arena that hosted Olympic hockey games. Despite the logistical difference, both athletes are determined to make the most of the experience.
Canada’s Paralympic Team: Ready to Compete
The Paralympics officially kick off on Wednesday with wheelchair curling. Both Wilkie and McGregor will compete on the Games’ official Day 1, March 7th. McGregor and the para hockey team will face Slovakia, while Wilkie will participate in the women’s standing biathlon sprint. Canada is sending a strong team of 50 athletes, aiming to surpass their impressive 25-medal, eight-gold performance at Beijing 2022, where they finished third in the gold medal standings for the fourth consecutive Winter Games.
Wilkie: A Rising Star and Team Leader
Natalie Wilkie, 25, from Salmon Arm, B.C., has been a key contributor to Canada’s Paralympic success since her debut at Pyeongchang 2018, where she was the youngest member of Team Canada. She secured a medal of each colour at her first Games and followed that up with a remarkable four-medal performance, including two golds, at Beijing 2022. Her philosophy is simple: “Every day is a new day… All we can do is show up and do our best and trust our training and our preparation.” She now embraces a leadership role, mentoring younger athletes, following in the footsteps of Canadian Paralympics legend Brian McKeever.
McGregor: Leading the Charge in Para Hockey
Tyler McGregor, 31, from Forest, Ont., is entering his fourth Paralympics. After a bronze medal in 2014, the para hockey team has earned two silver medals, narrowly missing gold in both championship games against the U.S. However, Canada has reasons to be optimistic. Canada’s only Paralympic gold in para hockey came 20 years ago in Italy, and they recently broke a seven-year title drought at the world championship, defeating the Americans in the final. “The vibes are high. There’s a lot of belief within this team right now,” McGregor stated. “We have a perfect mix of experience and youth.”
Both Wilkie and McGregor are eager to represent Canada with pride. “I’m so proud to be Canadian. I love our country so much,” McGregor said. “And to have the opportunity to represent Canada at the Paralympic Games, now heading into my fourth Games, this one feels different.”
