Rio Olympics 2016: Murray to be Team GB flag bearer

The 29-year-old was picked ahead of the likes of boxer Nicola Adams and rower Katherine Grainger.

Murray, who inspired Great Britain to the Davis Cup in November, is the first tennis player to get the honour.

As well as individual gold, the Scot also won doubles silver alongside Laura Robson at the London 2012 Games.

Cyclist Sir Chris Hoy led Team GB into London’s Olympic Stadium four years ago, while speed skater Jon Eley was selected for the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014.

The United States have nominated swimmer Michael Phelps, while hosts Brazil have chosen modern pentathlete Yana Marques.

The Russian team have selected volleyball player Sergey Tetyukhin after pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and the rest of the Russian athletics team was banned in the wake of the country’s doping scandal.