The 29-year-old was one of eight candidates who were nominated for the honour and was selected by the Mexican Olympic Committee (COM).

Campuzano will be the country’s sole representative in the women’s mountain bike competition at Rio 2016, with the event due to be held on August 20 at the mountain mike centre in Deodoro.

It will be the first time Mexico have been represented in the sport at the Olympics.

The COM have deemed that due to the competition taking place on 15 days after the Opening Ceremony, due to be held on August 5, Campuzano’s preparations will not be affected by being the flagbearer.

It was felt that a number of the other candidates for the honour could have had their training interrupted.

Campuzano will be only the second cyclist to carry the Mexican flag at an Opening Ceremony of an Olympic Games after Nancy Contreras at Atlanta 1996.

"I'm very happy, it's incredible news,” Campuzano told the EFE news agency.

“I feel great admiration for my fellow athletes and representing them will be a real motivation.”

Campuzano narrowly missed out on a podium position at last year’s Pan American Games in Toronto, finishing fourth. 

She has though enjoyed considerable success at the Pan-American Championship, triumphing in the last four editions of the event.

Her victory at the 2015 competition in Cota in Colombia saw Campuzano secure qualification to Rio 2016.