Hezly Rivera isn’t your average teenager. While most 17-year-olds are stressing over learner's permits and SAT prep, she’s busy collecting gold. Honestly, the way she handles pressure is kinda terrifying. Just a year ago, she was the "baby" of the Paris 2024 Olympic team, standing alongside legends like Simone Biles. Now? She’s the one standing on the top of the podium alone.
At the 2025 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships in New Orleans, Rivera didn't just win. She dominated.
She walked away with the Hezly Rivera US gymnastics title that many thought might go to a seasoned veteran like Leanne Wong. Instead, Rivera posted a massive two-day total of 112.000. That’s not a small margin in a sport where tenths of a point feel like miles. She didn't just take the all-around; she snagged gold on beam, floor, and shared the bars title. It was a statement. She’s not just a "team contributor" anymore—she’s the frontrunner for the entire U.S. program heading toward LA 2028.
Why This Hezly Rivera US Gymnastics Title Actually Matters
Winning a national title the year after an Olympic Games is famously hard. Most gymnasts take a "gap year" to rest their bodies or cash in on tour opportunities. Rivera did the tour—she was out there with Simone on the GOAT Tour—but she didn't lose her edge. By winning in 2025, she became the first woman to win both the junior and senior U.S. all-around titles since Jordyn Wieber did it back in 2011.
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That puts her in a very exclusive club. We’re talking names like Carly Patterson, Nastia Liukin, and Shawn Johnson. Basically, the royalty of American gymnastics.
The Road Wasn't Exactly Smooth
It’s easy to look at the gold medal and think it was a breeze. It wasn't. Early in 2025, Rivera looked a little shaky. At the U.S. Classic in May, she finished 12th. She had falls. She looked tired. People started whispering that maybe the "Olympic hangover" was real.
She proved them wrong in the most dramatic way possible.
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"It was not easy coming back after the Olympics," Rivera said after her win in New Orleans. She talked about the "blood, sweat, and tears" it took to get back into competition shape while her teammates were still on vacation. That’s the thing about Hezly—she’s got this quiet, lethal work ethic. She trains at WOGA in Texas under Valeri and Anna Liukin. If those names sound familiar, it’s because they’ve coached multiple Olympic all-around champions. They know how to peak an athlete, and clearly, they’ve got Rivera on the right trajectory.
Breaking Down the Scores
Let's get into the weeds for a second. To win a Hezly Rivera US gymnastics title, you can’t just be good at one thing. You have to be "scary consistent" across the board.
- Balance Beam: She’s a wizard here. A 28.350 over two days. She’s so steady it’s like she’s walking on a sidewalk, not a four-inch piece of wood.
- Floor Exercise: She brought the house down with a 28.200. Her tumbling is high-flying, but it’s the landings that set her apart.
- Uneven Bars: She shared the gold with Skye Blakely, scoring a 27.600.
Leanne Wong, who has been around forever and is a total fan favorite, gave her a run for her money. Wong finished with a 111.200. It was close going into the final rotation. Rivera knew it. She could feel the breath of the veteran on her neck, but she didn't blink. She just went out and did Hezly things.
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The LSU Connection
If you're wondering where she's headed next, she recently committed to LSU. This is huge for college gymnastics. Adding an Olympic gold medalist and a National Champion to an already stacked Tigers roster? That’s basically a cheat code for the Class of 2026.
What’s Next for the Champ?
The momentum was supposed to carry her straight to the 2025 World Championships in Jakarta, but gymnastics is a brutal sport. Rivera recently revealed she rolled her ankle just days before the selection camp. It’s a bummer, for sure. She won't be competing at Worlds this year, but in the long run, it might be a blessing in disguise.
She’s only 17. She has plenty of time to heal.
The real goal is 2028. With Biles and the "Golden Girls" generation potentially moving on, the U.S. needs a new anchor. Someone who doesn't crumble when the lights are the brightest. After seeing how she handled New Orleans, it’s pretty clear that Hezly Rivera is that person. She’s already achieved the dream, but she’s still training like she’s never won a thing.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Athletes
- Watch the Replays: If you want to see what "compositional requirements" look like done perfectly, go watch her 2025 Day 2 beam routine. It’s a masterclass in rhythm.
- Follow the Recovery: Keep an eye on her social media for updates on that ankle. How she handles this first major post-title injury will tell us a lot about her longevity.
- LSU Season Tickets: If you’re a gym nerd, start looking at the 2026-2027 NCAA schedule. Seeing Rivera in a college environment is going to be a total shift in energy.
- Respect the Grind: Remember that her 12th-place finish in May was just as important as her 1st-place finish in August. It’s about the "reset," not just the result.