Hezly Rivera Steals the Spotlight at Olympic Qualifiers

Hezly Rivera, just 16 years old, has become one of the most talked-about stories as she competes for the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team in Paris 2024. As the youngest American Olympian, her journey to this point has been nothing short of remarkable.

Despite being considered a longshot to make the team, Rivera dazzled everyone by shining at both the National Championships and Olympic Trials. Her hard work and talent earned her a spot on the veteran U.S. gymnastics team, and now she’s ready to perform on the biggest stage in the sport.

On Sunday, Team USA took part in the qualifying rounds for the team all-around competition. Rivera showcased her skills on the balance beam and uneven bars. After a bit of a shaky start on the beam, she ended her day on a high note with the bars. That’s when NBC made a smart move by having her father, Henry, wear a heart monitor during her routine.

As he watched from the stands, the heart monitor revealed just how tense things were for him. While the average resting heart rate sits between 60 and 100 beats per minute, Henry’s heart rate skyrocketed to 164 bpm, and at one point soared to a staggering 181 bpm during Rivera’s uneven bars routine, making it clear that watching your child compete is a serious workout in itself!

Rivera scored a commendable 13.900 on the uneven bars, contributing to Team USA’s overall success as they qualified for the medal rounds in the team all-around. The excitement doesn’t end here; the women’s team final is set for Tuesday, July 30, at 12:15 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

Following the team final, the women’s all-around will take place on Thursday, August 1, with individual events kicking off on Saturday, August 3. These upcoming competitions present yet more opportunities for Rivera and her teammates—Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey, Simone Biles, and Jordan Chiles—as they aim for gold in Paris.