She was appointed to the Government of Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, which is gradually being built following the election of Emmanuel Macron as President last week.

The 45-year-old, who was born in the French Overseas Department of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, won individual and team épée titles at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics.

She also claimed individual bronze at Sydney 2000 and individual silver and team bronze at Athens 2004 in a glittering career which also included six world titles. 

In 2002, however, she served a three month drugs ban after failing a test for banned substance coramine glucose.

This was blamed on team doctors, who were accused of inadvertently giving her the substance via an over-the-counter product.

Flessel has more recently served as a Bid Ambassador for Paris 2024 and appeared on the Eiffel Tower at a media promotional event yesterday.

She replaces Patrick Kammer and will emulate another two-time Olympic champion in judoka David Douillet in serving in the role.

Her appointment has already been welcomed by the Bid Committee.

She is now expected to play a major role in the bid for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics alongside the likes of Macron, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and co-bid leaders Tony Estanguet and Bernard Lapasset.

Macron met with the International Olympic Committee Evaluation Commission here yesterday to pledge his commitment to the bid.

"On behalf of the Paris 2024 Bid Committee, we would like to congratulate Laura Flessel-Colovic on her appointment as Sports Minister in the Government of Edouard Philippe," said a joint statement from Estanguet and Lapasset. 

"This appointment confirms the central role athletes play in the governance of sport in France. 

"We look forward to continuing the work that has been going on for nearly two years with Laura Flessel-Colovic, as we look ahead to the IOC decision on the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Los Angeles is the French capital's sole rival in a race set to culminate in a vote at the IOC Session in Lima on September 13.

Macron has promised to attend this vote as well as a Candidate City Briefing in Lausanne in July.  

However, the IOC appear increasingly likely to award both cities a Games - with the "loser" in the 2024 race given the 2028 edition.

Both candidates have stressed that they are only interested in the early Olympics, however.