Huot, a four-time Paralympian from Longueuil, Que., said saying the oath in his own country counts as one of the thrills of his career. “It’s a true honour to have this unique privilege to give the Athlete’s Oath at home,” said Huot. “I enjoyed every second of it and this gives me lots of excitement for the start of the swimming competition.”
Joining Huot in the Opening Ceremony was para-cycling coach Sebastien Travers who gave the Coaches’ Oath. “It’s a great honour for me and our Canadian cycling family to say the Coaches’ Oath at home in Toronto,” said Travers, of Bromont, Que. “I’m very happy to recite those values because they are definitely part of mine and I hope part of everyone in Toronto this week as we celebrate the spirt of these Games.”
Huot has won 19 Paralympic medals during his career, leaving him tied with Stephanie Dixon, Canada’s assistant Chef de Mission, as the second most in Canadian para-swimming history. Tim McIssac has 22 medals.
Swimming Canada and Cycling Canada were pleased to support the Canadian Paralympic Committee in the nomination of Huot and Travers to deliver the oaths.
“Ben and Sébastien are incredible spokesmen for their sports and for Paralympic sport,” said Chef de Mission Elisabeth Walker-Young.
“They are the perfect choices for the oaths as they stand on their ethics and values and portray that in all they do.”
Travers was the para-cycling national development coach for Cycling Canada in 2009 and 2010 then moved to high-performance coach. He is in charge of road racing team, the high performance development system and the sport-medical science development system.
The Canadian para-cycling team won 11 medals at the 2011 Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.