Clara Hughes won gold today in perhaps the greatest performance I have ever seen by a Canadian athlete, so I would say she certainly made the correct decision.
I think carrying the Canadian flag at the opening ceremony is kinda' like the Sports Illustrated cover jinx, since Browning and Orser failed to win gold medals.
Here's how the last 10 Canadian flag bearers have fared at the Winter Olympics (Source TSN.ca):
* 2002 Salt Lake City: Catriona Le May Doan, speed skating (won gold)
* 1998 Nagano: Jean Luc Brassard, freestyle skiing (failed to medal)
* 1994 Lillehammer: Kurt Browning, figure skating (failed to medal)
* 1992 Albertville: Sylvie Daigle, speed skating (won gold)
* 1988 Calgary: Brian Orser, figure skating (won silver)
* 1984 Sarajevo: Gaetan Boucher, speed skater (won two gold and bronze)
* 1980 Lake Placid: Ken Read, skiing (failed to medal)
* 1976 Innsbruck: Dave Irwin, skiing (failed to medal)
* 1972 Sapporo: Karen Magnussen, figure skating (won silver)
* 1968 Grenoble: Nancy Greene, skiing (won gold and silver)