At only 16 years old, Hezly Rivera realized the dream that many gymnasts have been chasing all their lives: she is going to the Olympic Games in 2024!
When Rivera’s name was announced as part of the US Olympic gymnastics team in June 2024, she was overwhelmed with gratitude. During a news conference following the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials in Minneapolis on June 30, 2024, Rivera reflected on her journey, acknowledging the “sacrifices that have been made” and the support system that has stood by her every step of the way.
“I’m so grateful to be here and to be called to the Olympic team,” Rivera told reporters. “It was such an amazing journey. I can’t believe I’m finally here.”
Rivera joins four veteran Olympians on the 2024 team: Simone Biles, Jade Carey, Suni Lee and Jordan Chiles. “I can’t believe I’m part of this team,” she said The Washington Post June 30.
From her unexpected start in gymnastics to her excitement about being part of Team USA, here’s everything there is to know about gymnast Hezly Rivera.
She’s from New Jersey
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Hezley Rivera as a child.
Hezly Rivera/Instagram
Rivera was born to parents Henry Rivera and Heidy Ruiz in Hackensack, NJ on June 4, 2008. She grew up in Oradell, NJ and has two siblings, Hanly and Carhelis. He currently lives in Plano, Texas, where he trains at WOGA Gymnastics.
Her gymnastic talent was discovered at her birthday party
Rivera’s journey into gymnastics began in an unexpected place: a birthday party. At just 5 years old, Rivera was at a gym party when her talent was noticed by a coach, who suggested her parents sign her up for gymnastics classes, writes Olympics.com.
By the age of 10, Rivera was already obsessed with the Olympics, watching the 2008 and 2012 games over and over again.
He has a close relationship with his father
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Hezly Rivera and her father, Henry.
Hezly Rivera/Instagram
Rivera’s strong bond with her father Henry, who has supported her from the beginning, played a key role in her journey to the Olympic stage.
“He’s my hero, my rock,” Rivera told reporters after the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials. “He always pushes me to be my best, but also comforts me when things get tough.” Rivera added that their close relationship has a strong foundation of trust, noting that she can confide in him about anything.
“He’s always there to talk about anything,” she said. “He says, ‘You can talk to me about anything,’ and I will.”
Her original goal was to make it to the 2028 Olympics, not 2024
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Hezly Rivera was presented as a member of the Olympic team in June 2024.
Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty
Rivera originally intended to make the 2028 US Olympic gymnastics team, viewing the June 2024 Olympic trials as a “stepping stone” to get there. However, when asked what has changed, Rivera was candid about her former goal.
“I think it was before this meet happened,” Rivera said of the June 30 Olympic Trials. “I think this was a stepping stone for me to just come here and do my job. So yes, 2028 was the target. I was just trying to stay very focused, because it’s all part of the journey anyway, if I’m alone [made] that or not.”
He looks at challenges as an opportunity to learn
At the 2023 World Junior Artistic Gymnastics Championships — the biggest competition of her career at the time — Rivera suffered a slip on her vault. Instead of being discouraged by the incident, she viewed it as a learning opportunity, stressing the importance of focusing on the present and not dwelling on past mistakes.
“I can definitely take everything, everything I’ve done and learn from it,” Rivera told reporter Scott Bregman at WOGA Gymnastics in Plano, Texas, in April 2023. “Even the messes, I’m very grateful for them because it makes me a better gymnast . Every time I fall, I say, ‘Okay, don’t do what you did last time. Just focus on whatever you’re doing.’ ”
She has passed significant milestones in her young career
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Hezly Rivera competes in floor exercise in February 2024.
Andy Lyons/Getty
Rivera’s rise in the world of gymnastics has been marked by consistent and impressive success on the balance beam. From winning the 2023 Junior Women’s All-Around Winter Cup title to leaving the 2023 Junior World Championships with two silver medals, she has shown her talent and poise under pressure.
“I just wanted to take it one step at a time and do what I do in the gym, because I know I can hit my routines,” Rivera told Gymnastics Now after the 2023 Winter Cup on Feb. 26, 2023. “So I just wanted to try for myself staying calm and doing one skill at a time and it worked.”
She is the youngest athlete on Team USA
At 16 years old, Rivera is officially the youngest athlete in all sports categories of the USA team that went to the Olympic Games in Paris, writes NBC Dallas.
Before being selected to the US Olympic gymnastics team on June 30, 2024, Rivera was ranked seventh after the first day of competition, with a total score of 54.825. On day two, Rivera finished with a score of 56.325, placing her in fifth place with a total score of 111.150 — beating out the final competitors vying for the coveted fifth spot.
Despite his excellent performance at the trials, Rivera entered the weekend calm, collected and without thinking “nothing to lose”.
“I [was thinking] I’m kind of the underdog and there wasn’t that much pressure on me, which is probably a good thing,” Rivera told NBC. “I just went out there and did my thing.”
Simone Biles says she’s ‘excited’ to show Rivera ‘the ropes’
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Suni Lee, Simone Biles, Hezly Rivera, Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey pose after being selected for the 2024 USA Women’s Gymnastics Team on day four of the 2024 US Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials.
Jamie Squire/Getty
Rivera joins four accomplished Olympic gymnasts — Biles, Carey, Lee and Chiles — as part of the 2024 U.S. Olympic team, and her teammates are excited about the young athlete’s entry.
“She’s so sweet. She’s so smart. She’s beautiful,” Biles said The The Washington Post. “We’re really proud of her for making this team, and we’re really excited to show her everything. At least she doesn’t have to do it alone. He has four veterans who have been there before.”
He has interests other than gymnastics
Despite Rivera’s impressive career as an athlete at the age of 16, she still maintains interests similar to those of her peers. Besides gymnastics, Rivera’s favorite subject is math and she likes shopping and listening to Katy Nichole’s music, according to her US Gymnastics profile. Her favorite book is Mamba mentality and her favorite movie is Spy children 2.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education