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U.S. women’s gymnastics rested, ready for Rio

RIO DE JANEIRO – The U.S. women’s gymnastics team might just be the biggest gold-medal lock of the Olympics. How do we know?

Martha Karolyi is giving the team a day off. Two days before the competition starts.

“It’s pretty unusual,” Karolyi admitted in a Facebook Live chat Thursday night with 2008 Olympic silver medalist Sam Peszek.

That’s how confident Karolyi is in their preparation; the 73-year-old matriarch did Facebook Live ahead of the biggest meet in four years. Imagine the Russian or Chinese coaches, or even Coach K or Geno Auriemma doing this.

These are Karolyi’s legacy Olympics, her fourth and final Games as the national-team coordinator.