Caster Semenya will carry South Africa's flag at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics.

The 21-year-old Semenya was given the honour yesterday for her first Olympics, three years after she was embroiled in a gender-test controversy that threatened her career.

South African Olympic committee chief executive Tubby Reddy says his body also considered double-amputee runner Oscar Pistorius, swimmer Cameron van der Burgh and long jumper Khotso Mokoena for the role.

Semenya is a former 800-meter world champion and was the world silver medalist last year. She is one of South Africa's best medal hopes at the London Olympics alongside Van der Burgh and swimmer Chad le Clos.