With 27.975 points across two balance beam routines, Hezly Rivera, at the age of 16, became Team USA’s youngest gymnast and defeated Simone Biles on the beam in the 2024 Olympic Trials. This was no fluke! At the Paris Olympics, she became a crucial member of the ‘Golden Girls’ squad and secured a gold medal.

Now, with Biles’ absence from the 2025 Xfinity Championships, Rivera took the lead on the beam on day 1 of the championship, as her score tallied 55.6 points. And her response to the win? “I’m feeling very confident and just calm,” the 17-year-old told Peacock. But the confidence was rooted in her sessions at WOGA Gymnastics in Plano, Texas. 

The pressure of claiming the lead at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships is pretty high. But with a blend of fun and serious focus, one can easily overcome such pressure. And this was the case with Rivera. During a recent conversation with Inside Gymnastics, the Olympic gold medalist said, “I think it’s just probably having more fun in the gym. I kind of have been just taking pressure off myself. Unneeded, extra pressure. Just having a good time. Relying on my teammates, my family, my coaches, and just remaining calm no matter really what happens.”

The interviewer then asked about the names of those who brought fun to Rivera’s time in the gym. And without wasting a single moment, she named Claire Pease. Despite ending up at the 15th spot in the all-around, Pease seemed like the perfect teammate for Hezly Rivera. The Hackensack-born gymnast said, “Me and Claire. She’s hilarious, and my other teammates, Jasmine, Madrae, Mattie, we have two Matties. But yeah. They’re our team, and I think we just have a really good bond.” 

Now, the spotlight highlighted Rivera’s performance on the beam. She didn’t just perform. She showcased her skills with a dance accompanied by acrobatics. Needless to say, Rivera won the fans’ hearts. But how did she feel about it? Did that performance calm her nerves? Well, the answer was a stunning yes. She said, “I actually felt very calm in my 30-second touch, which usually, I’m kind of more jittery. But, I knew from that point on it was gonna be a good meet. But yeah, I wasn’t that nervous on beam, actually. I felt pretty confident and just let it flow.” 

And the rest is now history. She garnered nothing but applause with her performance on the uneven bars, on the floor, and on the vault. But did you know that Rivera was already confident about her stance at the 2025 Xfinity Championships? 

Hezly Rivera is beaming with confidence and aiming to dominate the 2025 Xfinity U.S. Championships

The 2025 Classics were a nightmare for the Olympian. But that didn’t hinder her confidence for the Xfinity U.S. Championship. Hezly Rivera told Inside Gymnastics, “Feeling great going into this week. Training has been going great, and I have been just trying to trust myself. Um, it’s been going really well. We had a training yesterday, and it was good, so I’m just excited for the podium and to see where this is going.”

And that trust in her own style and power was reflected on the stage on the first day of the Xfinity Championships. But it wasn’t just the beam that heightened her confidence. Rivera was also confident about her floor routine. She continued, “I really love my floor routine, and I think it’s very bubbly and happy and kind of just me, because I’m a very happy person. I feel like a lot of people don’t see that, because I’m kind of serious all the time, but I’m laughing all the time, having a good time, and I think it goes well with my floor routine. I really am loving the choreography, and I think it fits me really well.” 

Hezly Rivera managed to weave in some groovy dance moves in her flips on the floor. She left no stone unturned to showcase her flexibility. And the fans and judges loved that. Now, we need to see how she performs in the finals.