Triathlete Alistair Brownlee has been announced as the English flag bearer for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony on Wednesday.

Double Olympic champion Brownlee comes into Gold Coast 2018 as defending champion in both the individual and mixed relay races.

“It is a massive honour to carry the flag for England at the Commonwealth Games,” said Brownlee. “I can’t imagine what it will feel like walking into the stadium with the cross of St George, alongside all the other Commonwealth nations.

“It is certainly going to be up there as one of the moments in my career that I will always remember.”

Team England selected their flagbearer after a vote of all sport team leaders. In casting their vote each team leader was encouraged to consult their athletes on who they would like to nominate.

At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, the Leeds athlete became the first person ever to win back to back Olympic triathlon titles, having first won gold at London 2012.

Triathlon team leader Ian Pyper said: “Alistair is a fantastic role model for triathletes and sports people all across England.

“I’m delighted for him and for the whole triathlon team.Not many people get to carry their team’s flag into the stadium and this is just reward for all of Alistair’s hard work.”

On Tuesday Scotland announced Eilidh Doyle as the nation’s flag bearer for the opening cermony, while Northern Ireland made the annoucement of Ciara Mageean as the athletics team captain.