Just days back, Coco Gauff had all praise for Simone Biles in an interview with Forbes BLK for speaking up about mental health issues. Little did she know that a week later she would be weighed in, dead-set against that very GOAT of gymnastics over national duties.

Stephen Curry-nominated 2x Olympic gold medalist LeBron James, 39, was chosen as the male flag bearer—a sort of lucky talisman, playing the sport professionally for over two decades. On the other hand, 20-year-old Coco Gauff, the youngest to win the US Open in 25 years, might look like complementing the choice on the female side.

If James is a behemoth, Coco—who has now become the youngest American flagbearer in Olympic history—is a young buck who needs all the encouragement she can gather. Want to know a fun fact here?

LeBron James was midway through his rookie NBA season when Gauff was born in 2004! Coco’s name was put forward by Fellow American tennis player Chris Eubanks. An evidently elated Eubanks said, “I’m incredibly proud of Coco — I know how great she is as a tennis player, but more importantly, how great she is as a person. I don’t think there is anyone more deserving of this honor.

But many were not on the same page with the idea.

They were expecting a seasoned star like Simone Biles or Katie Ledecky, whose impressive track records seemed to fit the bill to carry the Olympic scion this year. As the youngest American Opening Ceremonies flag bearer in history, Gauff’s selection stirred the pot, turning heads and sparking a hot discussion about who truly deserves this honor. But can Coco be completely discarded looking at her records?

Coco Gauff gained recognition in 2019 by beating Venus Williams at Wimbledon. At that time, she became the youngest woman to reach the tournament’s fourth round in almost 30 years. Her success continued with a Grand Slam final appearance at the 2022 French Open, where she was the runner-up to Iga Swiatek. Then again, Gauff made history in 2023 by winning the U.S. Open, becoming the first American teen to do so since Venus Williams in 1999. But is it enough to match Biles’s status?

Biles has made a mark in gymnastics with 37 medals, a number set to give even the fiercest pros a run for their money. Her elite career began in 2011, at the American Classic in Houston. At just 14, she stood out by finishing third all-around. Since then, Biles has been a dominant force, but it wasn’t only on national but international stages also which she has been dominating.

At her first Olympics in Rio de Janeiro at age 19, she led Team USA to gold in the team event and won the individual all-around title. She also excelled in the floor and vault events, becoming the fifth female gymnast to win four gold medals in a single Olympics. Additionally, Biles has five gymnastics skills named after her, showing her impact on the sport. While Biles shines brightly, Katie Ledecky’s achievements in swimming also deserve equal recognition and respect.

Since her high school days, Katie Ledecky has been a powerhouse in swimming, and she continues to make waves. Her impressive career boasts 10 medals- 7 gold and 3 silver, which were earned across three Olympic Games before the 2024 Paris Games. She also holds world records in the women’s 1,500-meter freestyle (15:20.48) and the 800-meter freestyle (8:04.79). Throughout her career, she has shattered 16 world records and 37 American records. But let us not forget a fact.

Gauff and James earned their prestigious Olympic selections through a vote by their fellow U.S. athletes, as announced by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). This is something that Coco’s father Corey also pointed out. “The 538 athletes voted and selected her…So that’s respect from her peers…Learn before posting,” he posted, lashing out at the criticism. The same sentiment was echoed by U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland.

“To be nominated by your teammates for this honor speaks volumes about the way in which Coco approaches her sport and her role as a member of Team USA,” Hirshland said, lauding Coco.

Despite this, some fans are on the fence and have expressed dissatisfaction and placed the blame on the algorithm/ process of selecting the Olympic flag-bearing custodians.

Fresh talent or seasoned ones like Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky?

One fan exclaimed, “This is insane to me who voted for Coco I need to know how it’s not Simone Biles or Katie Ledecky?” It seems like the battle stops at veterans vs. youngsters! But do you know there is an interesting connection between the stars?

It is the sixth year of their lives that brought them into the limelight! At the age of 6, Coco Gauff first made it big, winning the USTA Clay Court National 12-and-under title at just 10, making her the youngest champion in the tournament’s history. She’s racked up seven career singles titles since then.

On the other hand, Simone Biles got her start in gymnastics at age 6 during a daycare field trip and launched her elite career at 14. By 16, Biles had already snagged two gold medals at the Antwerp Championship, including the all-around title. Katie Ledecky, again, began swimming at 6, closely mirroring Biles’ trajectory. During her high school years, she broke several long-standing American records and earned a scholarship to Stanford University.

At Stanford, she continued to make waves, winning eight NCAA titles and setting 15 NCAA records, leading her team to back-to-back championships. With close to 21 years of experience in their respective sports, both have deep-rooted legacies. But, let us not forget that just like Simone or Katie, Gauff has already started showing her mettle at a tender age. Who knows, she might also attain the same height in the coming future. For such a promising athlete, such an honor might work as a boost to do even better. But there is another side to it.

One fan pointed out, “For me Ledecky or Simone Biles were more correct, furthermore Coco is very young and could have easily done it later.” This is truly one factor that can not be overlooked. At 27, Simone is already the eldest women gymnast of the USA to take part in the Olympics. She herself has expressed doubt about participating four years late at LA28. If she happens to bow out before 2028, she will be denied the opportunity for a lifetime. Also, when it comes to Simone or Katie, it is not all about the medals.

One must also consider the impact the two athletes already have on their respective sports. The Tokyo 2020 Games threw Simone Biles a curveball when she experienced the debilitating “twisties”, a mental block that forced her to withdraw from the competition. But going against the norms of keeping silent, Biles bravely opened up, becoming an advocate for mental health and encouraging others to speak out. She has been a groundbreaker there.

Considering these, one more fan shared their thoughts, saying, Happy for her, but shouldn’t have been Ledecky or Biles?” Another added, “Why not Simone Biles? This must be a joke.” Meanwhile, a fan brought one more athlete to the discussion.

They wrote, “Someone like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Simone Biles, not to mention the swimmers, for me is a bad choice.” In track and field, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has truly set the world on fire in the 400m hurdles. As the reigning Olympic and 2022 World Champion, she has redefined what’s possible in her domain/forte. From the moment she first stepped onto the Olympic stage at just 16, McLaughlin-Levrone has been on an upward trajectory.

In 2021, she broke the 52-second barrier with a world record of 51.90 seconds at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. She then outpaced herself with a record-breaking 51.46 seconds at the Tokyo Olympics and further improved to 51.41 seconds at the US Trials in 2022. Her jaw-dropping performance of 50.68 seconds at the World Athletics Championships, followed by a new world record of 50.65 seconds, not only shattered her own record but also set a new standard, surpassing even the Olympic benchmark for the 400m event without hurdles.

Indeed, Coco might have some more distance to travel to rise to the ranks of these athletes. It remains to be seen if the honor she received propels her to attain that in the foreseeable future.