Tag: Hezly Rivera

Olympic gold medalist Hezly Rivera commits to LSU gymnastics

The future of LSU’s gymnastics program is in good hands.

The defending national champion LSU gymnastics team could be poised for a repeat with the top gymnast in the nation, [autotag]Haleigh Bryant[/autotag], returning for one final season in 2025.

But even when Bryant and other stars move on, the future of the program seems to be in very good hands.

On Thursday, coach [autotag]Jay Clark[/autotag] and the Tigers picked up a massive commitment from Olympic gold medalist [autotag]Hezly Rivera[/autotag], a current high school junior who competed as a member of the Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics this past summer.

Rivera ultimately did not compete as part of the team final, where the United States won gold, but she still received a gold medal as a member of the team while competing individually in the bars and beam.

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“I am so blessed & excited to announce that I have verbally committed to Louisiana State University (LSU) on a full athletic scholarship,” she wrote in a post on Instagram. “thank you Jesus for this wonderful blessing! thank you to my family, coaches, and teammates for helping me throughout this process. I also want to thank all the girls, coaches, and staff at LSU for everything”

Rivera is only 16 and has her sights set on a return to the Olympics when they’re hosted in Los Angeles in 2028. In the meantime, she will look to keep LSU among the ranks of elite gymnastics programs.

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Hezly Rivera: 5 facts about the gymnast who is the youngest member of Team USA at the Paris Olympics

Hezly Rivera may be the next U.S. gymnast to become a household name

For the Paris Olympics this summer, For The Win is helping you get to know some of the star Olympians competing on the world’s biggest stage. We’re highlighting 15 Team USA athletes in the 15 days leading up to the Opening Ceremony. Up next is Hezly Rivera.

In the long line of stars produced by USA Gymnastics, Hezly Rivera is next in the queue, and she may be sticking around for quite awhile.

After qualifying for Paris by tying Joscelyn Roberson for the highest overall beam score (27.975) at June trials in Minneapolis, the New Jersey native is set to make a run for the podium in her first Olympics.

Here’s a bit more about her.

1. Hezly Rivera is the youngest Olympian on Team USA

Suni Lee, Hezly Rivera, Jade Carey, Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles pose for a photo after being selected for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Women’s gymnastics team during the U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

At 16 years, 26 days old when she qualified, Rivera is the youngest member of Team USA’s Olympic delegation across all sports. She’s 11 years younger than Simone Biles.

2. Rivera won two silver medals at the 2023 World Junior Championship

One for team performance and one for her floor exercise.

@hezrivera

🥹💞

♬ Lobster – Rj Pasin

3. Rivera trains with Valeri and Anna Liukin

Hezly Rivera of WOGA Gymnastics performs on balance beam during day two of the women’s 2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

If those names sound familiar — and they should — it’s because they are the parents and coaches of former USA Olympics gymnastics star Nastia Liukin who run the famed WOGA Gymnastics in Dallas.

4. Her career started because of a birthday party at age 5

According to Olympics.com, Rivera got her start in the sport by attending a gymnastics-themed birthday party of a friend that was held in a local gym.

She performed so well that the coaches reportedly approached Rivera’s parents afterwards to urge her to continue by trying out for their team. Barely a decade later, she’s an Olympian.

@hezrivera

grwm from yesterday #grwm @Charlotte Tilbury @Hourglass Cosmetics @Saie @makeupbymario @Rare Beauty @LAWLESS Beauty

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5. Women’s gymnastics at the Olympics begins on July 28

You’ll have to wake up pretty early on Sunday, July 28 to catch the start of Rivera’s run in Paris. The women’s team qualifiers begin at 3:30 a.m. ET. Something tells us this burgeoning star will be worth the extra cups of coffee to see live.

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