The sentimental money was on Simone Biles, hoping to conquer Paris after putting the Tokyo twisties behind her.
Instead it’s tennis star Coco Gauff who will join LeBron James in carrying the flag for Team USA at Friday’s unique opening ceremony, when the 206 national teams will parade not around a stadium but down the Seine river.
At 20, Gauff will be the youngest American flag bearer at an Olympics. She was born in 2004 the same year that James, now 39, was in his rookie season in the NBA.