By The Canadian Press

Basketball player David Eng to carry Canadian flag at Paralympics

Sep 6, 2016 | 8:27 AM

RIO DE JANEIRO — Montreal wheelchair basketball player David Eng will carry Canada’s flag into the opening ceremony of the Rio Paralympics.

The two-time gold medallist will be competing at his fourth Games.

Eng made his Paralympic debut at the 2004 Athens Games, where Canada won gold. He won a second gold four years ago in London and has a silver from the 2008 Beijing Games.

The 39-year-old called carrying the flag the “highest honour an athlete can get.”

“I got the chance in Beijing to see chef de mission Chantal Petitclerc do it and my good buddy (swimmer) Benoit Huot doing it the closing ceremony in London, and every single time, I was like ‘Wow, what an honour,’” said Eng. “I can’t believe today that I’m sitting in front of everybody and I have the chance to be able to do that accomplishment.”

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The Canadian co-captain discovered the sport through his uncle Gerald Brule, a former member of the national team.

“He is a very respected athlete and a role model for all athletes in his sport and in all sports,” Petitclerc said of Eng. “(He) is an amazing leader off and on the field of play.”

The Paralympics open Wednesday. Canada’s goal is a top 16 finish in overall medals.