An Olympic athlete from Dinas Powys has been named as one of Team GB's first joint flag bearers for Friday's opening ceremony in Tokyo.

Dinas Powys sailor Hannah Mills will carry the Union flag alongside rower Moe Sbihi.

The shared honour follows a directive by the International Olympic Committee in March 2020 where each team could have a flagbearer to represent both genders.

In a social media statement, Mills said it was "an incredible honour".

"I am completely lost for words to be named as the female flag bearer for Team GB for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games alongside Moe Sbihi.

"Overwhelmed, honoured and proud are definitely feelings I've felt over the last 24 hours! Telling my family was pretty emotional!

"The number of other incredible female athletes in the team who also would have truly deserved this too is not lost on me, so I hope to do them and the whole of Team GB proud.

"I will carry the flag for Team GB, the athletes and the whole of the U.K. | For the Olympics and what they represent | For the planet and the changes we need to make.

"Thank you @teamgb for this incredible honour."

Mills, 33, won sailing gold in 2016 in the women's 470 class alongside Saskia Clark, and will defend the title in Tokyo with a new team-mate, Eilidh McIntyre.

Andrew RT Davies MS said: "I'm absolutely thrilled that Hannah, from Dinas Powys in my region, will be flying the Union flag for Wales at the opening of the Tokyo Olympics on Friday.

"Hannah will be putting Dinas Powys on the map as she becomes the first female sailor to carry the Union flag at an opening ceremony.

"I look forward to watching the ceremony and I'll be cheering Hannah on to bring back another medal for Wales and Team GB."