Sixteen-year-old gymnastics sensation Hezly Rivera, who made headlines by winning team all-around gold in Paris, is preparing to make another big move-joining the LSU gymnastics team. Rivera, the youngest member of Team USA Gymnastics for Paris 2024, recently announced her commitment to LSU on social media, sparking excitement and celebration from fans.
She posed alongside current LSU star Olivia Dunne, but their connection goes back much further than this announcement.
Sixteen-year-old gymnastics sensation Hezly Rivera, who made headlines by winning team all-around gold in Paris, is preparing to make another big move-joining the LSU gymnastics team. Rivera, the youngest member of Team USA Gymnastics for Paris 2024, recently announced her commitment to LSU on social media, sparking excitement and celebration from fans.
She posed alongside current LSU star Olivia Dunne, but their connection goes back much further than this announcement.
Rivera’s gymnastics journey began with a stroke of fate. When she was just five years old, she caught the attention of coaches Craig and Jennifer Zappa during a birthday party at a gymnastics gym.
Showing exceptional talent with her flips and cartwheels, the coaches immediately saw potential. The young Rivera made the ENA Gymnastics team on her very first tryout, a rare achievement in the sport.
The connection with Dunne
Interestingly, when Hezly first entered the doors of ENA Gymnastics in Paramus, New Jersey, Dunne was already there, training under the same coaches.
Dunne, who started her gymnastics journey in 2007, also trained under the Zappas and fondly remembers her early start.
By the time Rivera joined in 2013, Dunne was already an established gymnast whom Rivera and others admired.
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