Anna Meares to carry the flag in Rio Games

THE CYCLING CAREER OF AUSTRALIAN RIO OLYMPICS FLAG BEARER ANNA MEARES

* DOB: 21/9/83 (32)

* Will become one of only three women in track cycling to ride at four Olympics

* Only woman to represent Australia in cycling at three Olympics

* Two Olympic gold medals, five medals in total - most by an Australian woman in cycling

* Broke the world record to win the 500m time trial at her Olympics debut in Athens, also bronze in the sprint

* Recovered from a potentially crippling neck fracture to win sprint silver in Beijing

* Won team sprint bronze in London with Kaarle McCulloch. Then beat arch-rival Victoria Pendleton in the sprint final for her second Olympic gold medal

* Will ride in the sprint, keirin and team sprint (with Stephanie Morton) in Rio

* Second cyclist to be flag bearer, following Dunc Gray at Berlin, 1936

* Meares also was flag bearer at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games

* Recent summer Olympics Australian team flag bearers:

2012: Lauren Jackson (basketball)

2008: James Tomkins (rowing)

2004: Colin Beashel (sailing)

2000: Andrew Gaze (basketball)

1996: Andrew Hoy (equestrian)

1992: Jenny Donnet (diving)

1988: Ric Charlesworth (hockey)

1984: Wayne Roycroft (equestrian)

1980: Denise Robertson-Boyd (athletics) and Max Metzker (swimming)

1976: Raelene Boyle (athletics)