Hezly Rivera was quite young when it was discovered that she had the skills to become a gymnast. She was taken under the wing of a well-known coach and managed to make it to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Hezly “Hez” Rivera as a little girl in a social media post uploaded on July 30, 2024 | Source: Instagram/hezrivera
When she was eight, Hezly’s parents started homeschooling her so she could practice intensely. Her computer engineer father and her mother said gymnastics would be their life, and there was no looking back.

Hezly’s Faпs Feel She Deserves to Perform iп the Olympic Fiпals

Why Was Hezly Not iп the Olympic Fiпals for Gymпastics?

Hezly “Hez” Rivera biting on her Paris Olympics gold medal in a social media post uploaded on July 30, 2024 | Source: Instagram/hezrivera
The Women’s Gymnastics final was held on July 30, 2024, and Hezly’s team won, meaning she also earned a gold medal. Despite the gymnast failing to partake in the finals, she still got to star alongside one teammate she admired.
Meeting and Working with Simone
Hezly was only seven years old when she met Simone, long before they became teammates in Paris. In April 2016, the older and well-known gymnast visited the gym where Hezly was taking classes. The pair even posed together for a picture that the younger athlete shared on her Instagram.
Hezly confessed that she never thought they’d be on the same Olympic team that day when they took the photo together. The star continued, “So it’s just so amazing that I am so blessed to be here and have this opportunity.”

Hezly Rivera, Jade Carey, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Simone Biles of Team US pose during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Qualification at the Paris Olympic Games on July 28, 2024, in Paris, France | Source: Getty Images
During the Olympic trials, the teenager gave an impressive performance that earned her 27.975 points for two balance beam routines. She surprisingly beat Simone and Suni on the beam but tied with Joscelyn Roberson.
The motivational advice that Hezly uses might be what got her this far in her career at such a young age. She once revealed that during a meeting with her coaches, head coach Valeri and coach Anna Liukin told her to “just do me.”

Hezly “Hez” Rivera and her family in a social media post uploaded on December 25, 2023 | Source: Instagram/hezrivera
Getting All the Support She Needs
According to his LinkedIn account, Hezly’s father is the Senior Director of Test Engineering at Medidata Solutions. He’s been with the company for nineteen years and three months and has been in his new role for a year and five months.
From 1997 until 2002, Henry studied at the Stevens Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) and Computer Engineering. His job has allowed him to afford Hezly’s gymnastics career.
The young athlete also credited Carhelis, her older sister, for getting her involved in gymnastics at an early stage. She recalled how her sibling would tell their mother that she should put Hezly into gymnastics due to the handstands and cartwheels she performed in the house.
Carhelis knew how dangerous it was for her younger sister to be doing such stunts in the house, so she urged their mother to enroll her in the sport so she could be safe. The older sister hoped that through gymnastics, Hezly would have the freedom to do whatever she wanted and make it far.