Carrying the Flag

The Tokyo Games ended just six months ago, but it's already time to light the Olympic cauldron once again.  They've promised us another spectacular Opening Ceremony for Beijing 2.0, even if it won't be anywhere near the scale of the (overly) elaborate presentation they put on 13 1/2 years ago that was, frankly, kind of intimidating (which I think was part of the point).

With the Opening Ceremony set for Friday morning U.S. time, we'll find out who the U.S. flag bearers are very soon.  I say flag bearers, plural, because that initiative the IOC started in Tokyo "encouraging" nations to have two flag bearers--one male, one female--sure seems like it'll be a permanent "suggestion" moving forward.  And a nation with a team as big as the United States will certainly be compelled to have one of each.

As with any Olympics, there are plenty of worthy candidates for the honor.  Here are 10 who fit the bill (five men, five women).  I wouldn't be surprised if it's any of them.  I wouldn't be surprised if it's two other athletes entirely, too.

John Shuster, Curling: This is Shuster's fifth consecutive Olympics, his fourth as the American skip.  He won a bronze in 2006 and, of course, led his team to the first-ever American curling gold four years ago in PyeongChang.  It really was one of the most memorable Team USA moments of the 2018 Games.

Shaun White, Snowboarding: It's also White's fifth straight Olympics.  He and his sport have both come a long way since his debut in Torino.  While we don't know if this is his last Games (it would actually be kinda cool if he comes back to end his Olympic career where it started--in Italy), this would still be a cool honor to recognize his contributions to snowboarding, which has really become one of the marquee Winter Olympic sports.

Chris Mazdzer, Luge: In 2018, he won the silver, becoming the first non-European ever to win an Olympic medal in men's singles luge.  While he may not be a medal contender again this year at 33, he's still the top American.  And the U.S. did win mixed team bronze at the 2020 World Championships.  Of course, Erin Hamlin was the flag bearer four years ago, so it seems unlikely it'll be a luger two Olympics in a row.

David Wise, Freestyle Skiing: While not as heralded as some other Olympians, David Wise has a chance to make history in Beijing.  If he wins gold in the halfpipe, he'll become the first American man to win gold in the same event at three straight Winter Games.  If he carries the flag, he'd become the first freestyle skier to receive the honor.

Nathan Chen, Figure Skating: He's actually competing on Thursday night/Friday morning in the team event, so it's possible he won't even attend the Opening Ceremony.  But if any of the American figure skaters are in the running to carry the flag, he'd be the one.  Chen has a disastrous short program in PyeongChang, only to win the free skate and finish fifth.  Since then, he's dominated his sport, and he's by far got the best chance of winning the first U.S. figure skating gold since 2014.

Hilary Knight, Hockey: They really could choose any of the veteran members of the U.S. women's hockey team, but I'm going with Knight.  She's already a three-time medalist, winning silver in 2010 and 2014, as well as that memorable gold in 2018.  Should the U.S. medal again in Beijing (which is likely), Knight will become the fourth American hockey player in history with four Olympic medals.

Elana Meyers Taylor, Bobsled: She has quite a story.  Meyers Taylor has medaled in three straight Olympics in two-woman (bronze in 2010, silver in 2014 and 2018).  In Beijing, she'll have two chances at that first Olympic gold--in both two-woman and the debut of women's monobob.  But it's the rest of her story that's remarkable.  She gave birth to her son, who has Down Syndrome, right at the start of the pandemic and is a longtime advocate for numerous causes, which has led to some serious change in the sport of bobsledding.

Jessie Diggins, Cross Country Skiing: You can have your men's curling and women's hockey.  To me, the most memorable U.S. gold medal in PyeongChang was the one won in cross country by Jessie Diggins and Kikkan Randall, the first-ever in the sport.  Randall is retired, but Diggins is back, and she's got a chance to add to that haul big time.  Although, she carried the flag at the Closing Ceremony in PyeongChang, so it's unlikely she'll get to do it twice in a row.

Brittany Bowe, Speed Skating: Bowe has a chance to end the long U.S. medal drought in women's long track speed skating.  She was on the squad that won bronze in the team pursuit four years ago for the first U.S. medal since 2002.  Now Bowe, the world record-holder in the 1000 meters, has a chance to become the first American woman with an individual Olympic speed skating medal in 20 years.

Maame Biney, Short Track: NBC couldn't get enough of Maame Biney in 2018.  And it is a great story to be sure.  Born in Ghana, moved to Virgina with her family at age five, became an Olympian at 18, making her the first African-born woman to make a U.S. Winter Olympic team.  She's got a great smile, too.  Biney's unlikely to medal in Beijing, but her story alone would make her a great choice to carry the flag.

If I had to bet on it, I'd say Shuster will be chosen for the men and Meyers Taylor for the winner.  Of the two, I'm more confident that Elana Meyers Taylor will be selected, but I like them both.  You can't go wrong with either Shuster or Meyers Taylor.