Can she break her records?
How 16-year-old Jersey girl Hezly Rivera Simone Biles on the beam to become Team USA’s youngest gymnast
Can she break her records?
This Garden State gal is going for the gold.
Hezly Rivera, a teen from Oradell, New Jersey, unexpectedly secured a spot on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team last month after finishing fifth all-around at the Olympic Trials in Minnesota.
Rivera just turned 16, making her the youngest member of a team full of Olympic veterans in their 20s — including four-time gold medalist Simone Biles, 27, and 2021 All Around gold medalist Sunisa Lee, 21.
ith the Paris 2024 Olympics just over two weeks away, theexcitement is palpable as the world eagerly awaits to see the best athletes compete across more than 30 disciplines. This unique experience, which happens only once every four years, is a culmination of nearly a lifetime of preparation for many athletes. For those who are not exceptionally young or extraordinary, the chances of returning to the Olympics are slim.
One of the sports where younger athletes often shine is gymnastics. In the Tokyo Olympics, the U.S. women’s gymnastics team finished third behind China and Russia, but they were the most successful nation in Rio 2016. The stars of the U.S. team are undoubtedly Simone Biles (27), who is the oldest U.S. gymnast to compete in the Olympics in 72 years, and Sunisa Lee (21). Both were bested in the trials in Minnesota by an impressive performance from 16-year-old Hezly Rivera, who excelled across two balance beam routines, outscoring both Biles and Lee and tying for the top score with Joscelyn Roberson.
With Tokyo veterans Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles (23), and Jade Carey (24) still in top form, a fifth spot seemed highly unlikely for Rivera. However, after injuries to Olympic contenders Shilese Jones, Kayla DiCello, and Skye Blakely at the trials, Rivera seized her Paris opportunity and performed exceptionally all weekend. The nerves will surely be present forRivera, but the support from her family, coaches, and teammates will be crucial for her to channel her energy effectively.
Looking ahead, with the next Olympics