Hezly Rivera has realized her childhood dream. After the U.S. Olympic Trials in gymnastics, she discovered that she can be a part of the five-woman Olympic group.
“So many feelings. I used to be completely satisfied and excited,” Rivera mentioned.
Rivera trains at WOGA in Plano (World Olympics Gymnastics Academy) the place she is among the many world’s best gymnasts.
“I’m so grateful to be right here and to be chosen on this Olympic group. I’ve made so many sacrifices to get right here, so I need to thank God, my coaches, household, my associates, and my teammates. I simply can’t imagine that I’m right here,” Rivera mentioned.
The group headed to the Paris Olympics consists of 37-time Olympic and World medalist Simone Biles, reigning Olympic all-around champion Suni Lee, Olympic ground train gold medalist Jade Carey, Olympic group silver medalist Jordan Chiles, and two-time 2023 Junior World silver medalist and 2024 Winter Cup steadiness beam champion Rivera, who at 16 years and 26 days previous is at the moment the youngest member of all sports activities within the Staff USA delegation headed to the 2024 Olympic Video games.
Though she is the youngest on the group, she mentioned she needed to suppose like a veteran all through the competitors.
“I considered it as each different meet. Simply going on the market and doing my factor, principally doing what I do within the fitness center. I used to be simply considering it is simply me and my beam or simply me and the bar. I attempt to calm myself down beforehand. I [was thinking] I’m just like the underdog, and there wasn’t a lot stress on me, which was in all probability a very good factor. I simply went on the market and did my factor,” Rivera mentioned.
It’s not misplaced on her the quantity of expertise on the group.
“I feel it is tremendous comforting. They’ve already been by it. They’ve been by the journey and the Olympic Video games. I feel they’ll have the ability to mentor me. Not simply on the Video games, however by way of coaching. I feel that shall be nice assist for me. The roster is superb. They’re all unimaginable and contribute a lot to the group, which I’m so completely satisfied about. I can’t imagine that I’m a part of this group as nicely,” Rivera mentioned.
She mentioned she nonetheless can’t imagine that in 2021, she was sitting at her home and within the fitness center watching the Tokyo Olympics, saying she wished to be on that group. Now, she is right here.
“I couldn’t have imagined that and I’m simply so excited and by no means would have thought that may have occurred. Bars and beam are what I can contribute to the group. So after I hit bars and beam I knew that I had a shot,” Rivera mentioned.
Her father was visibly emotional when her title was known as as a member of the gymnastics group. Rivera wasn’t stunned, contemplating how a lot her household had supported her. They moved from New Jersey to Plano in order that she might practice at WOGA and have the perfect likelihood of constructing an Olympic group.
“He [my dad] has been with me for the reason that starting and at all times been supporting me since I used to be little. It’s been so superb having a father like him. He’s my hero, my rock and at all times pushes me to do my greatest. And at all times comforting when issues get tough,” Rivera mentioned.
The USA Gymnastics delegation headed to the 2024 Olympic Video games in Paris, France, was introduced Sunday.
