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RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Javelin thrower Shirlene Coelho has been chosen as Brazil's flag bearer at the opening ceremony for the Rio Paralympics.
The 35-year-old was voted by her Brazil teammates on Monday, beating 17 other candidates, according to the Brazilian Paralympic Committee.
Coelho, who won gold at the London 2012 Paralympics, received 20% of the vote, eclipsing judoka Antonio Tenorio, who drew 18%.
She is the fist woman to be given the honor and the first Brazilian flagbearer to be elected by her peers.
Brazil's Paralympic delegation will include a national record 287 athletes. The South American nation took 189 athletes to the London Games four years ago.
The opening ceremony for the Rio Paralympics will be held at the Maracana stadium on Wednesday. The Games will run from September 7 to 18.
