All eyes are on Team USA as another Olympic Games loom overhead. Among the luminaries set to carry the Stars and Stripes on the grandest stage are names like Simone Biles and Brody Malone, poised to uphold the nation’s storied gymnastics legacy. However, while the current generation of gymnasts hogs all the limelight for the time being, let’s not forget how the likes of Aly Raisman helped establish this heritage during their own heydays.

Aly Raisman, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, made her mark at the 2016 Rio Olympics, a tournament that propelled both her and Simone Biles to global renown. Behind every successful athlete stands a supportive family, and Raisman’s journey to the pinnacle of gymnastics was no exception. While anticipation builds for the upcoming Olympic spectacle, it’s worth reflecting on how Aly’s family played an integral role in her rise to world-class status.

Meet Aly Raisman’s parents, Rick Raisman and Lynn Faber

Aly Raisman was born in Massachusetts into a family where Lynn, a former high school gymnast, provided an ideal foundation for her daughter’s athletic pursuits. Since she first ventured into gymnastics at just 18 months old, her parents have been unwavering fixtures at every competition, passionately cheering her on from the stands.

Aly Raisman’s fascination with gymnastics began at a tender age, inspired by watching the legendary “Magnificent Seven” at the 1996 Olympics. Her parents nurtured this passion with a singular focus on cultivating an Olympian in the family. Lynn candidly shared in a 2016 interview with the New York Post, “Time is such a precious commodity, and the impact on family time was tough…There were a number of times where my husband took her siblings away … and I stayed home with Aly.” Throughout Aly Raisman’s journey, Rick and Lynn remained steadfast pillars of support, contributing significantly to her success and inadvertently gaining global recognition themselves.

How did Aly Raisman’s parents become viral?

In both the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, Lynn and Rick were spotted in the stands: flinching and reacting to each of their daughter’s moves. Their animated reactions went viral and fans around the world couldn’t stop talking about how wholesome Aly’s parents are. Even Aly, who was in seclusion with her teammates to focus on the task at hand, managed to share a few chuckles at what her parents kept on doing. “The only time I see them is, like, that video that is literally everywhere,” said Aly Raisman in an interview in 2016. Appearing for an episode of the Today show in the same year, following Raisman’s three-medal-hauling run in Brazil, Rick also joked, “I tell Aly I’m more famous than her!”

“We have no idea we’re even moving when we’re in the stands, we’re so caught up in the moment,” told Aly Raisman’s father to PEOPLE, noting that the only thing on their minds is supporting their daughter and going through the sacrifices together as a family. Now, as Raisman embarks on her new role as a collegiate gymnastics analyst, the hope remains that her parents will continue showering her with the same unwavering support that guided her to the pinnacle of gymnastics.