Perales (pictured top) will be competing in her fourth Games in London and wrote on her Facebook page that "it is a great honour".

"I'm so happy and pleased for being the Spanish flag-bearer," she added.

"The London 2012 Paralympic Games can't have a better beginning for me!

Perales gave birth to a son, Nano, prior to her return to the pool for last year's European Championships in Berlin.

Her eight medals, including one gold, demonstrated that she is very much in contention for glory again this summer.

She is currently at a 21-day training camp in Granada, Spain, with the rest of the country's swimmers along with fellow competitors from Brazil and Venezuela.


"Last year the training was more relaxed as my body, after having the baby, needed to get used to training and competing again," she said.

"This year I've been exclusively dedicated to training for the London Games.

"My dedication has been 100 per cent – I've had ups and downs in training sessions as I was too tired, but after the IDM Open Berlin 2012 I realised my times were very good and I felt much more enthusiastic."

Perales is in line to overtake fellow swimmer Xavi Torres (pictured above) as the most decorated Spanish Paralympian of all time this summer.

Each has 16 medals, but as Perales is competing in several events in London the S5 swimmer could easily overtake Torres, although he will also hope to add to his own collection.

Perales insisted thoughts of her new son will spur her on: "One of my main motivations is Nano.

"He is also my motivation to continue my sporting career after London."

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