Hezly Rivera

Quick Facts

• Specialty: Vault, balance beam and floor exercise

Biographical Information 

Hezly Rivera is an emerging talent on the U.S. national gymnastics team. Known for her powerful performances and dedication to the sport, Rivera has quickly risen through the ranks of USA Gymnastics, marking herself as a gymnast to watch in the coming years.

Rivera’s journey began at a young age, showing early promise in the sport. She was first introduced to gymnastics through a friend’s birthday party that took place at a gymnastics facility.

Rivera made her debut as a senior elite gymnast in 2023, quickly establishing herself as a promising talent on the U.S. national gymnastics team. Rivera has shown promise across all four gymnastics apparatuses, with particular strength in vault and floor exercise. Her powerful tumbling on floor and dynamic vaulting have caught the attention of gymnastics enthusiasts and coaches alike.

Throughout her junior career, she steadily progressed through the U.S. Gymnastics development program, competing in various junior elite competitions. She currently attends an online high school program through Connection Academy, giving her plenty of flexibility to stick to her rigorous training schedule. A proud Latina, she hopes to inspire and be a role model for other young people in her cultural community. 

Olympic Highlights

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Rivera was the youngest athlete representing Team USA across all sports at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. She did not participate in the finals but earned a gold medal with the U.S. women’s gymnastics team.

U.S. Gymnastics Career 

In 2022, Rivera secured third in the all-around at the winter cup. This same year she contributed to Team USA's gold medal at the DTB Pokal Team Challenge. She earned a silver medal in the all-around at the U.S. Classic, as well as gold on the balance beam. In 2023 at the winter cup, Rivera won the all-around title along with beam and floor titles. This led to her spot on the Junior World Championships team, where she helped lead Team USA to a silver medal finish and earned an individual silver medal on floor exercise.

In 2024, Rivera placed third all-around at the winter cup and tied for first on beam. She placed sixth at the National Championships and finished fifth in the all-around at the Olympic Trials.

Early Career

Her performances as a junior elite gymnast caught the attention of national team coordinators, setting the stage for her transition to the senior level in 2024. This transition marked the beginning of her journey towards potentially representing the United States in major international competitions.

Olympic Experience

• 1-time Olympian; 1-time Olympic medalist (1 gold)
  • Olympic Games Paris 2024, gold (Team - Women), 20th (Uneven Bars - Women), 46th (Beam - Women)