Belgrade - Winner of five Olympic medals, three-time world shooting champion and world "Shooter of the Millenium" in 2000, Jasna Sekaric finally gets to bear her nation's flag at the opening of the Olympic Games - her sixth, local reports said Friday.

Sekaric, 42, crowned her Olympic debut in Seoul 20 years ago with a gold medal. Her overall tally from the past five Games also includes three silver and one bronze medal.

After Sydney, she was on podium in Barcelona, Sydney and Athens, either in air or sports pistol, missing out only in Atlanta in 1996, where she was fourth.

Despite being by far Serbia's most successful Olympian, in the past she was often overshadowed by the popular basketball, volleyball and water polo stars.

"I cried when I heard I would not carry the flag in Athens," she was quoted as saying by the daily Blic. The flag bearer for Serbia and Montenegro four years ago was basketball star Dejan Bodiroga.

"I think my turn has finally come," said Sekaric, a three-time world champion, in 1987, 1989 and 1994 and six-time World Cup winner.

She was elected the world's best shooter in 1990, 1994 and 2005 and in 2000 the International Shooting Sport Federation awarded her the title of "Shooter of the Millennium."

Of her prospects in Beijing, Sekaric said: "I believe I may be a contender for a medal, along with 10 or 15 others. The competition will be fierce and some luck will be necessary."

Sekaric is married and has a daughter. (dpa)