SOCHI, Russia -- Wheelchair curler Sonja Gaudet has been named as Canadas flag-bearer for the opening ceremony of the Sochi Paralympic Games. The 47-year-old Gaudet is the most decorated wheelchair curler in history, having won gold medals at both the 2006 and 2010 Paralympics She also has three world championships to her name. A native of North Vancouver, B.C., Gaudet will lead a Canadian contingent of 54 athletes into the Fisht Olympic Stadium on Friday night. "It carries a lot of purpose for me," Gaudet said at Wednesdays announcement. "Of course were here to compete as athletes with a physical disability at the highest level -- thats what the Paralympic Games are. "It sends a big global message as well about looking past the wheelchair, looking past the visual impairment, looking past the missing limb and really focusing on the person and focusing on whats there." Gaudet is the second on the Canadian squad to skip Jim Armstrong, who said his teammate is deserving of the honour. "In the six, seven years that Ive known Sonja, all Ive done is see her work very hard," said Armstrong, who won gold at the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics with Gaudet. "Her skills have just continued to improve and it has not come easy. She has set a work ethic that any coach would be very proud of." Canada made the podium 19 times in Vancouver and has set a goal of finishing top-three in gold medals in Sochi. The Winter Paralympics include wheelchair curling, sledge hockey, para-nordic skiing and biathlon, para-alpine skiing and para-snowboard. Canada plays two wheelchair curling games on Saturday morning, including a 9:30 a.m. local time (12:30 a.m. ET) start against Britain. Marqise Lee Womens Jersey . So he and his Toronto FC teammates say they will have no problem getting up for their Amway Canadian Championship final against rival Montreal Impact, even if the result doesnt count toward Major League Soccer standings. Telvin Smith Jersey . "Weve given ourselves now a tougher task," said Carlyle after the Friday practice, the Toronto head coach notably chipper and upbeat throughout. "But the bottom line is we just have to win our share of games [and] not worry about what anybody else is doing. http://www.authenticjaguarslockroom.com/Youth-Josh-Allen-Elite-Jersey/ .J. -- Tom Coughlin doesnt have many options at halfback for the winless New York Giants. Nick Foles Youth Jersey . Toronto FC hosts the three-time Italian league champions in a friendly Aug. 7 at BMO Field, a game that Roma CEO Italo Zanzi said falls within a key part of their pre-season. Quincy Williams II Womens Jersey . Pinch-hitter Tommy Medica singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 in their first home game since Gwynn died of cancer Monday.SAN FRANCISCO - Giants manager Bruce Bochy has announced the worst-kept secret in San Franciscos clubhouse: left-hander Madison Bumgarner will start Wednesdays wild-card game against Pittsburgh or St. Louis.Bochy said before Sundays regular-season finale against San Diego that he felt comfortable with Bumgarner or Jake Peavy on the mound. But given Bumgarners success the last few yearrs, he said I dont think there was any question who you pitch that game.ddddddddddddBumgarner was 18-10 with a 2.98 ERA this season. He has a 3-2 record with a 3.79 ERA in six post-season starts, all during San Franciscos runs to the 2010 and 2012 World Series titles.The winner of the wild-card game will face the Washington Nationals in a best-of-five division series. ' ' '