At just 16 years old, Hezly Rivera has already lived out a dream that once seemed distant. A dream that might just appear impossible to many. A golden dream, framed in red and blue, first drawn on a vision board when she was just 11! And that dream shaped reality in Paris, where she stood atop the podium as an Olympic gold medalist. Now, as she takes her next step, her heart leads her to Louisiana State University. A place she already calls home.From the moment Rivera walked into the Bercy Arena in Paris, she knew she was part of something extraordinary. She was part of a superteam that included the likes of current NCAA #1 Jade Carey, UCLA’s own Jordan Chiles, 6-time Olympic medalist Suni Lee, and perhaps the greatest of them all, Simone Biles. But irrespective of the hard rocks, Hezly knew things would be even harder moving forward. But once that is done and dusted, she would have claimed immortality on the Olympic stage.As if to mimic her excitement from half a year ago, in her interview with Inside Gymnastics, Hezly shared, “Going from 2023 Junior National Champion to Olympic gold medalist, at just 16, is super insane, and all of my hard work finally paid off.” She went on to thank her family, teammates, and mentors as “they were all a part” of her quest. But even before the cheers faded, Rivera was already thinking about the next chapter. And she did not just leap abruptly.College gymnastics was always in the plan for Hezly. And as offers poured in from powerhouse programs, she had a life-altering decision to make. Rivera toured some of the biggest names in the sport, including Florida and Oklahoma. But something about LSU stood out. It wasn’t just the championships or the prestige—it was something deeper. Narrating the reason behind her decision, the 16-year-old stated, “I committed there because it felt like a home to me, and I saw the way that the coaches treat their gymnasts and I just saw it was very family-oriented, and that’s what I personally really liked.”That sense of belonging meant everything to Rivera. Sharing her heartfelt emotions, she continued, “I love how all the teammates and friends just communicate with each other and connect with each other, and how the coaches just connect with their athletes and don’t just think of them as athletes, but as human beings and students as well.”She had spent years pushing her body and mind to their limits, chasing perfection in a sport that demands everything. And now she was looking for a place that could offer more than just elite training—a place that felt like home. “So that really opened my eyes, and it was very cool to see, and I saw that I wanted to commit there. So it just felt very special to me and the place that I wanted to be in.”However, it wasn’t a matter of one day that she gathered the courage to make such an important transition in her life. You would be amazed to know that the senior members of the Olympic team became her mentors in the journey.Hezly Rivera gets candid on support received from Simone Biles and other seniorsA 16-year-old girl might have a lot of dreams. Yet, competing in an Olympic game still might seem like a bit of a stretch. While that is exactly what transpired with Hezly Rivera, she embraced it with both hands. As she settled down in the Olympic Village, reality hit her hard. Rivera understood that she was now carrying the weight of the expectations of the entire nation. Thousands of gymnastics enthusiasts are looking forward to the US women’s national team bringing home an Olympic medal, preferably gold. And that feeling can make even the greatest of the lot crumble under pressure. Thus, Rivera knew she had to find a way to tackle the issue. Luckily for her, help was available in abundance. The likes of Simone Biles and other seniors in the team took it upon themselves to keep the tension off of Rivera’s head. Opening up to Inside Gymnastics on February 19, Rivera stated, “They were always with me. You know? It was a really cool experience just being with all of those veterans helping me and guiding me for my first Olympics.” While each of the seniors helped her significantly, Rivera also mentioned a few from the lot specifically. And no wonder the’mom’ of the group, Simone Biles’ name was right there. “Suni (Lee) was very, very helpful to me and so was Jade. They were just the biggest role models. And Simone and Jordan (Chiles), they always take care of me,” Rivera chimed in. Surely enough, the mutual support worked as the women took the gold medal, and with Hezly Rivera becoming the Olympic gold medalist at 16, it was one of the sweetest memories for her to cherish. Now as Hezly Rivera embarks on her NCAA journey with LSU, she carries with her not just the lessons of elite gymnastics but the love and support that have fueled her from the beginning. The youngest ‘Golden Girl’ of the USA won’t just be chasing titles but might be looking forward to building a future. More so, because alongside shining in the NCAA realm, the Paris Olympic champ is also eyeing a triumphant quest in LA2028.The post Hezly Rivera Reveals Real Reason Behind Olivia Dunne Partnership as Gymnast Comments on LSU Move appeared first on EssentiallySports.