I think it’s safe to say that 2024 Paris Olympics fever is at a record high this week. Everywhere I look, screens of all sizes have the games on. But did you know that a young Latina made Olympics’ history way before her debut in Paris this week? Yes, Gymnast Hezly Rivera made headlines weeks ago when she qualified for the Games U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She became the youngest athlete representing the United States at the Olympics. And, just this week, the 16-year-old made history again, winning the gold, alongside mega star athlete Simon Biles. She may seem like an overnight sensation, but the young athlete has been waiting for this moment for a long time. “This has been my dream ever since I was 8,” she told NBC News.
Here are 5 key facts about Gymnast Hezly Rivera
- Age: Hezly Rivera was born on June 4, 2008, making her the youngest female athlete from the U.S. at the Paris Olympics.
- Nationality: She’s Latina. Her parents are from the Dominican Republic. “Both parents are Rivera’s biggest fans and supporters,” NBC writes.
- Early Start: She began her gymnastics journey at the age of five after going to a friend’s birthday party at a gymnastics facility.
- Hometown: From New Jersey to Texas: Originally from Oradell, New Jersey, Hezly moved to Texas in 2021 to train at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy.
- Education and Training: Hezly is enrolled in an online high school program called Connection Academy, which accommodates her training and competition schedule.
- Interests: Hezly excels in bars, but she also enjoys flipping through the air and being with her teammates.
- Fun facts: Outside of gymnastics, she says she loves shopping, and her favorite movie is “Spy Kids 2.”
Feature image of the Paris Olympics 2024 courtesy of Deposit Photos.
