TORONTO (August 7, 2025) – On Thursday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced that trampoline gymnast Rielle Bonne and badminton player Victor Lai will be Team Canada’s flag bearers for the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games Opening Ceremony. The news was revealed to the two during a special video call with Chief Sport Officer Eric Myles.
The Opening Ceremony of the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games is set for Saturday, August 9, with competition running through to Saturday, August 23. This marks the first time Paraguay will host a continental multi-sport event. These Games will bring together approximately 4,000 athletes from 41 countries across the Americas, competing in 28 sports.
Rielle Bonne transitioned to trampoline gymnastics at age 14, after spending eight years as a competitive artistic gymnast. Thirty years after her mother competed at the Canada Winter Games, Bonne followed in her footsteps at the Prince Edward Island 2023 Canada Winter Games, where she won bronze in the women’s individual trampoline event. Bonne, who balances training with coaching gymnastics and studying in a specialized program in medical esthetics at Humber College, earned a bronze medal in the 17–21 category at the 2023 World Age Group Championships in Birmingham, England. She followed that with another bronze in women’s individual trampoline at the 2024 Senior Pan American Championships in Lima, where she also helped Canada capture silver in the women’s team trampoline event.
“I am absolutely honoured to represent the country with pride and grace,” said Bonne. “Being chosen as a flag bearer and having the opportunity to lead Team Canada into the Games is something I’m going to remember forever. I have so much gratitude for this experience, and I am ready to wear the maple leaf on my chest and represent my country to the best of my abilities.”
Victor Lai has been enjoying a breakout season on the badminton courts in 2025. In April, he won the men’s singles title at the 2025 Pan American Championships. In July, he was named one of Canada’s flag bearers at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU Summer World University Games – just a couple weeks after he won silver at the 2025 YONEX Canada Open in Markham, a Super 300 event on the HSBC BWF World Tour. He reached his first-ever BWF World Tour final with a stunning semifinal upset over second seed and world No. 7 Kodai Naraoka. He also reached the quarterfinals of the 2025 YONEX U.S. Open, another BWF World Tour Super 300 event, in June.
Known for his outstanding sportsmanship, the two-time Canadian national champion (2023-2024) and third-year health student at York University was also honoured in 2023 as both the OUA Men’s Badminton Rookie of the Year and York’s Male Rookie of the Year.
“I am honoured to be named one of Canada’s flag bearers for the 2025 Junior Pan Am Games. I am always proud to represent my country, and the opportunity to lead Team Canada is truly special. Excited to walk amongst my teammates at the Opening Ceremony in Asunción,” said Lai.
Team Canada at Asunción 2025 will feature 157 athletes aged 13 to 23 competing in 22 sports. That is an increase from 31 Team Canada athletes in 10 sports at the inaugural Junior Pan American Games four years ago, Cali 2021. The athletes were selected based on their sport’s specific qualification pathway and internal nominating procedure. The full list of Team Canada Asunción 2025 athletes and support staff can be found here*.
”Congratulations to Rielle and Victor for this honour, which speaks not only to their athletic talent, but also to their leadership both on and off the field of play,” said Tricia Smith, Canadian Olympic Committee President and Panam Sports Executive Board member. “As flag bearers, they will lead the team into the Opening Ceremony to officially start the Games, where we will see 157 Canadian athletes competing alongside their peers from across the Americas in this unique multi-sport event. We look forward to cheering on all our athletes in Asunción.”
The Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games provide athletes aged 23 and under, from across the Americas, a valuable opportunity to experience the culture of multi-sport Games early in their careers. With a focus on athlete development, high-performance preparation, and international competition exposure, the Junior Pan American Games have a growing significance in many sports’ performance pathways to the Pan American Games and Olympic Games. Four Team Canada athletes who competed at the Cali 2021 Junior Pan American Games went on to represent Canada at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Jeremy Hazin (Table Tennis), Josipa Kafadar (Taekwondo), Aurélie Tran (Artistic Gymnastics), and Brian Yang (Badminton).
At Asunción 2025, every individual gold medallist will earn direct qualification for the upcoming Lima 2027 Pan American Games, with 214 quota spots available.
“This team will be led by two athletes who truly reflect the values of Team Canada. Rielle and Victor will make our nation proud as they guide our delegation into Asunción 2025,” said Myles. “The Junior Pan Am Games provide an important growth opportunity for Canadian athletes. It’s always special to get a glimpse of what the future may hold for Team Canada.”
ASUNCIÓN 2025 CANADIAN FACTS AND FIGURES
Note: The numbers below reflect accredited athletes (Aa) only and do not include alternate athletes (Ap).
Athletes who identify as female or are competing in women’s events: 94
Athletes who identify as male or are competing in men’s events: 63
Athlete provincial and territorial breakdown (by hometown)
Alberta – 12
British Columbia – 43
Manitoba – 2
Nova Scotia – 5
Ontario – 48
Quebec – 34
Saskatchewan – 7
Outside Canada – 6
Olympians or Pan American Games athletes: 5
Rachel Chan, Badminton – Santiago 2023 (bronze)
Kate Miller, Diving – Paris 2024, Santiago 2023 (silver)
Benjamin Tessier, Diving – Santiago 2023
Olena Verbinska, Artistic Swimming – Santiago 2023 (bronze)
Jessie Xu, Table Tennis – Santiago 2023
Team Canada athletes won 10 medals (4 gold, 1 silver, and 5 bronze) at the inaugural edition of the Junior Pan American Games in Cali 2021. New sports and disciplines on the Asunción 2025 program include BMX freestyle, field hockey, golf, open water swimming, rugby sevens, shotgun shooting, and water ski/wakeboard. In addition to the 157 athletes who will take part, 4 alternate athletes, 62 NSO support staff and coaches, and 11 Mission Team members will make up Team Canada’s delegation at Asunción 2025.
HOW TO WATCH:
You can watch Team Canada athletes competing in Asunción on Panam Sports Channel and follow results here.
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Media Contacts
Arianne Cloux, Coordinator, Communications
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 514-606-2441
E: acloux@olympic.ca
Tara MacBournie, Program Manager, Sport Communications
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-522-8328
E: tmacbournie@olympic.ca