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Swimming champion Pellegrini to fly national flag for Italy in Rio

Xinhua, April 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

Former Olympic champion swimmer Federica Pellegrini will carry Italy's flag at the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympic Games in August, the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) announced here Wednesday.

Pellegrini won the 200m freestyle gold medal in Beijing in 2008 but failed to capture a medal four years later in London. She is a four-time world champion over the 200m and 400m freestyle in 2009 and 2011 World Championships.

"This is the crowning moment of years and years of a career comprising great defeats and really great victories," Pellegrini said in a Tweet after the announcement.

CONI said the selection of Pellegrini had been "written in the stars" as the opening ceremony in Rio's legendary Maracana stadium is on August 5, Pellegrini's 28th birthday.

"It will crown a dream career that has always been pursued under the signs of talent, sacrifice and passion," CONI said. Endite