KATE Howey said she was "chuffed to mintballs" after being handed the honour of carrying the British flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on Friday.
Britain's most famous woman judo player becomes the first woman for 20 years to lead out the team in what will be her fourth and last Olympics.
Howey took the silver medal in the 70kg section in Sydney four years ago to go with the bronze she won at 66kg in Barcelona in 1992.
Now she believes the "unbelievable boost" of being chosen by her fellow athletes to carry the flag will help her to crown a glittering career by going one better than last time by taking gold in the 70kg section in Athens.
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