In just one year, Hezly Rivera has transformed from the youngest U.S. Olympian in all sports at the Paris Games to becoming the all-around national champion. Rivera showcased her exceptional talent by scoring a total of 112 points over two nights of competition held in New Orleans, ultimately prevailing by a narrow margin of eight-tenths of a point over Leanne Wong, a two-time Olympic alternate. Joscelyn Roberson, another alternate from the Paris Olympics, secured third place in this prestigious competition.
Heading into the final rotation, Rivera maintained a slim lead over Wong, holding a two-tenths advantage. With nerves running high, she executed a stunning floor exercise, achieving the highest score of the night at 14.2. “I was aware it was pretty close, right before I went on the floor, probably a minute or two,” Rivera shared during her interview with NBC Sports. “It’s a little bit nerve-racking, but I just tried to trust the process and trust God and just let my body do what it knows how to do.”
At just 17 years old, Rivera has made history in several ways:
She is the youngest U.S. all-around champion since Ragan Smith in 2017. She is the first woman to win both junior and senior all-around titles since Jordyn Wieber in 2008 and 2011-12. She is the sixth American woman since 2000 to combine Olympic gold with a national all-around title, joining the ranks of Simone Biles, Wieber, Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin, and Carly Patterson.Rivera, who previously claimed the title of 2023 U.S. junior all-around champion, began her journey in the 2024 Olympic selection season by placing 24th at the U.S. Classic. This was shortly after the passing of her grandmother. Despite the challenges, she climbed to sixth in her senior U.S. Championships debut and finished fifth at the Olympic Trials, as several veteran gymnasts faced injuries. Ultimately, Rivera was selected to be the only rookie on the Olympic team alongside renowned gymnasts like Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and Jordan Chiles.
During the Paris Olympics, Rivera competed on the uneven bars and balance beam in the qualifying round. Reflecting on her experience, she stated, “My mindset is kind of like, I achieved my dreams, I achieved my goals, but I still have more (goals), so I kind of like to put that (the Olympics) in the back of my head for now.” She emphasized her commitment to training as though she had never been to the Olympics, with a set of Olympic rings hanging above her bed as a constant reminder of her achievements.
This week, Rivera excelled again, earning the highest scores on both the balance beam and floor exercise, while also sharing the bars title with Skye Blakely. Wong, the most experienced competitor in the field at 21, clinched the vault title, hoping to become the second non-teen in the last 50 years to win a U.S. all-around title after Biles.
The next significant event on the horizon is a selection competition occurring in early autumn, where four women will be named to represent the U.S. at the World Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia, scheduled for October. The all-around champion at this selection event will automatically qualify, while a committee will select the other three athletes based on their performances at nationals and other 2025 meets.
Two months ago, Skye Blakely was uncertain about her participation in the national championships following a torn right Achilles tendon sustained just two days before the Olympic Trials. Making a remarkable comeback, she competed solely on balance beam and uneven bars at this week's event. Despite facing challenges in her first elite meet in 14 months, Blakely achieved the top scores on both events, demonstrating her resilience and determination. “It was my first (elite) meet back in a while, but I have high expectations for myself,” she expressed. “Just really staying motivated, allowing my family to motivate me, too, helped me find that fire within.”
