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Mariel Zagunis has been named the flag bearer for Team USA for the opening ceremony at the 2012 London Olympics. The 27-year-old will be going for her third Olympic gold in the women's individual sabre after winning the event in Athens and Beijing.
Zagunis will easily be one of the more decorated fencers in London. On top of her Olympic achievements, she won gold at the 2009 and 2010 World Championships, and silver in 2011. Her 2004 gold at Athens may still be the highlight of her career, however. She made Team USA as an alternate, and was only able to compete because Algeria decided not to send a fencing representative. Zagunis went on a remarkable run to the finals from there, defeating former world champion Tan Xue of China for the gold medal.
Zagunis will be the fourth fencer to bear the flag for Team USA, and the first since Janice Lee Romary at the 1968 Mexico City games. The opening ceremony will be broadcast on NBC beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday, July 27.