Natasha Keller German flag bearer at opening ceremony

Berlin - Hockey star Natasha Keller was chosen by the German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB) as flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in London, the DOSB said.

Keller is the fifth woman to lead the German team at the opening ceremony, reports Xinhua.

The 35-year-old national player made a record 401 appearances, furthermore it is her fifth attendance at the Summer Olympics. In 2004 in Athens she won a gold medal as a member of the German team.

“This is a huge honour for me and a very big Olympic moment. It will be a great motivation for my team and me,” Keller said after the DOSB’s appointment.

Keller comes from well-known field hockey family with a successful Olympic past. Her grandfather Erwin Keller won silver in 1936 for Germany. Her father Carsten Keller won gold in 1972 in addition to it her brother Andreas and Florian Keller won gold in 1992 and 2008.

In 2008 Beijing Games, basketball star Dirk Nowitzki led the team into the stadium.