Frenzel, winner of the gold medal in the individual normal hill event at Sochi 2014, was considered the favourite to be given the role by the German Olympic and Sports Confederation (DOSB).

The 29-year-old will lead the German delegation into the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium tonight.

He beat off competition from four other athletes to be named Germany’s flagbearer.

Reigning Olympic luge champion Natalie Geisenberger, speed skater Claudia Pechstein, downhill skier Viktoria Rebensburg and ice hockey player Christian Ehrhoff were the other competitors in the frame.

Frenzel received 31.4 per cent of the total votes cast by fellow athletes and the general public.

Pechstein, the five-time Olympic champion who served a two-year ban for blood doping in 2009 before she was at the centre of a protracted legal dispute, was second with 25.4 per cent.

"It is a great honour for me to be selected as a flagbearer," said Frenzel.

"I am very pleased.

"But I think the other four would also have deserved it."

DOSB President Alfons Hörmann also claimed all five athletes would have been worthy winners.

"Each and every one of the five nominees would have been an excellent and worthy flagbearer in every respect," he said.

"Even if it could only become one, all five have won.

"That has made the extremely positive response inside and outside the team clear. 

"Now team Germany will gather behind the flagship athlete Eric Frenzel and develop the indispensable team spirit."