Since 1984, the Chinese Olympic flag-bearers have all been basketball players, but now that trend is being broken by Olympic fencing champion Lei Sheng who has been chosen for the honour of leading the country when they enter at the opening ceremony.

Chinese Olympics delegation chef de mission Liu Peng announced Lei Sheng as the flag-bearer.?

Chinese Olympics delegation chef de mission Liu Peng announced Lei Sheng as the flag-bearer. The 32-year-old Lei was born in Tianjin and he became China's first male foil Olympic champion four years ago in London. Lei is also a two-time world team titlist in 2010 and 2011 at the World fencing championship. He carried the Chinese flag in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and will compete in both the individual and group foil competitions in Rio.