Michael Phelps to carry the US flag during Olympic opening ceremony

The most decorated Olympian of all time Michael Phelps will carry the flag of the United States at the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Games.

Phelps, 31, has won 22 Olympic medals, 18 of them gold, over four Games.

In the past Phelps would have competed in the 400m individual medley, which takes place on the first day of competition in the pool, preventing him from being considered as flagbearer. However, he will not contest the event in Rio, freeing him up to become only the second swimmer in history to carry the USA flag after Gary Hall at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games.

Phelps will compete in 100m and 200m fly and 200m medley at the Rio Games.

The Opening Ceremony will take place on August 5 at the Maracana stadium.

"I'm honored to be chosen, proud to represent the US, and humbled by the significance of carrying the flag and all it stands for," Phelps said on Wednesday.

"For Sydney, I just wanted to make the team. For Athens, I wanted to win gold for my country. For Beijing, I wanted to do something nobody else had done. In London, I wanted to make history.

"And now, I want to walk in the Opening Ceremony, take it all in, represent America in the best possible way and make my family proud. This time around, it's about so much more than medals."

Phelps had retired from the sport after the London Games but decided to come back 18 months later. Endit