The 2024 season has been quite a rollercoaster for Hezly Rivera. Would you believe that three years ago she was watching her now-compatriots compete in the Japanese capital? Cut to this year, and she got to share the Olympic mat with crème de la crème like Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, and more. But her debut wasn’t as magical as she expected. The 16-year-old couldn’t qualify for any individual events. Yet, she walked away with a shiny women’s gymnastics team all-around gold medal in tow. 

Ever since, the gymnast has been a sensation, marking the beginning of a challenging yet exciting journey. After returning to the States, she got busy with high school and the Gold Over America Tour with her Team USA teammates. But we’re just a few days away from the end of this season. So, with the new season on the gymnast’s heels, she is looking forward to a whole new world of opportunities. What could they be?

Hezly Rivera spills the beans on her future goals

We barely got to watch the youngin’ weave her magic on the mat. On the other hand, debuting as the youngest Team USA member in Paris helped her gain immense experience. So, will she return to the mat soon? But it turns out she has a few big goals in mind. “My goals are the 2025 Worlds and ’26, ’27, and then the Olympics in 2028,” she told Olympics.com. Even though she has her hands full, the gymnast isn’t too worried because these happen to be her long-term goals. 

Unsurprisingly, she might reunite with her fellow Olympian Simone Biles next year. Why do we say that? The G.O.A.T. had an incredibly busy 2024 season. She triumphantly redeemed herself from the Tokyo Games, concluded the second edition of the Gold Over America Tour, and even cheered her husband, Jonathan Owens, on during a few games. Even though she hasn’t confirmed or denied her contention in LA 2028, we might watch her return to the mat sooner than expected.

The 7x Olympic gold medalist will compete in the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia. While the event will be in October, this works in her favor. Not only does she have enough time to prepare, but she can also focus on other activities before resuming training. Given how Hezly Rivera intends to put her best foot forward at the meet, it will be exciting to watch the duo come together after their time in Paris. 

But does the 16-year-old have any other immediate goals in mind? “I have little goals to worry about each and every day. I just set tiny goals, not just every month, and just take it one step at a time and see where it takes me,” she exclaimed. While the Olympian trains for the championship to roll around, she has one other thing on her mind. Her much-anticipated NCAA debut. How does the gymnast feel about that? 

The 16-year-old looks forward to making a mark at LSU

Hezly Rivera might have a plan chalked out for 2025, but she still isn’t certain about what that looks like. On the other hand, the gymnast will also be starting her journey as a collegiate athlete with the reigning national champion, Louisiana State University. The upcoming season will be nothing short of exciting. However, she does find herself at a crossroads—how will she balance the expectations of being a collegiate and elite gymnast?

Luckily, she doesn’t have to worry about that. “I might ask [my Olympic teammates] Jade [Carey] and Jordan [Chiles] about it, though, because they’ve been through the same things,” she confessed. Despite being unsure of the logistics, she looks forward to joining the LSU Tigers this season. She announced her verbal commitment on Instagram back in September. We know what you’re thinking. Why did she pick LSU? We will let the Olympian answer that for you.

After numerous official college tours over the summer, Hezly Rivera already knew which university she wanted to go to. When she was asked what the deciding factor was, the gymnast kept it simple. During her visit, the 16-year-old witnessed how the coaches treated her future teammates and what the experience of being coached by them was like. She compared the experience to feeling like being a part of a huge family.

That was one of the most important questions for the Olympian. However, there was something else that motivated her too. When the gymnast announced her commitment, LSU’s gymnastics queen, Olivia Dunne, welcomed her with open arms. She even posted a picture with Rivera, referring to her as “Baby Tig.” The Olympic gold medalist looked forward to learning from the gymnast as she prepared for her final year with the Tigers as well. By the looks of it, the 16-year-old will have a few eventful years. Are you excited to watch her return to the mat?