Hesley Rivera took to the stage of NBC's “Today” show just one day after a moment changed her life and doubled her social media following.
Like so many, Rivera was struggling to make sense of it all before the 16-year-old from Oradell made an unexpected appearance at the USA Gymnastics Championships in Minneapolis on Sunday, clinching a spot in the Olympics.
She is believed to be the first Olympian from the tiny Bergen County borough and is by far the youngest of the five qualified to compete on the U.S. team.
Even the most decorated gymnast of all time would be astonished at her rapid rise in the sport.
“Can you drive yet?” said teammate Simone Biles, a four-time gold medalist.
“Technically I could, but I haven't done it yet,” Rivera said. “I've been so busy.”
Life is only going to get busier for Rivera. Her path to Paris began a little over a decade ago in Paramus, where she began training at ENA Gymnastics at age 5 after attending a friend's birthday party at another facility and impressing the staff there.
Soon she was practicing about 30 hours a week under the strict tutelage of ENA head coach and co-owner Craig Zappa, and by the time she moved to Texas a few years ago to train at an elite club under the tutelage of Valeri and Anna Liukin, it was clear Rivera was destined for big things.
“A lot of girls start gymnastics because they want to be an Olympian,” Zappa said, “and that's a big attraction for them. But then, maybe by age 8, you start to realize that this girl has something special, that if everything goes right, she could be an Olympian one day. Not just the talent, but the mentality and drive to be an Olympian.”
Oradell prepares to honor Hesley Rivera
In Paris, the women's gymnastics competition begins with the qualifying rounds on Sunday, July 28. Oradell Mayor James G. Coss III said discussions have already begun at City Hall about how to honor Ms. Rivera, who grew up on Beverly Road.
“We're exploring some ideas to host viewing parties and put up messages and signs around town to support her as she heads to the Olympics,” Koss said.
“My wife reached out to her father on Facebook and asked if she would come back to the area from time to time to see family and friends. The town would love to do something to honour this achievement she has achieved. What an incredible opportunity for a young athlete to be able to stand on the world stage and compete for a medal.”
Hesley Rivera's journey to the 2024 Olympics
Rivera was not considered a front-runner to make the U.S. national team until at least 2028.
According to The Washington Post, the average age of medalists in gymnastics at the last Tokyo Summer Olympics was 20.6 years old, more than four years older than a high school senior. That, plus the competitive spirit of the U.S. team, which returns four Olympians — Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Childs and Jade Carey — is also a factor.
That leaves just one ticket left for all other Olympic hopefuls, including Kayla DiCello and Skye Blakely, who outscored Rivera in goals scored at the 2024 Winter Cup in February, but with DiCello and Blakely both sidelined with Achilles injuries, Rivera seized her opportunity.
“This kid was so cool,” Zappa recalled, “fearless, strong, agile and talented. Really coachable and eager to learn and do the best he could.”
North Jersey Gymnast of the Year praises former teammate Hesley Rivera
A graphic on the NBC Sports television broadcast illustrated Rivera's sacrifices and his unusual schedule: training from 8 to 11 a.m., homeschooling from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., then training again for three hours.
During their time together, Zappa said, it was common for Rivera to attend national camps for five consecutive days every month or two, some of which required trips to Utah or Ohio.
“It's very busy,” says Avery Lauterbach, a former ENA teammate and former gymnast of the year at the North Jersey High School Sports Awards. “It's not like a normal kid who goes home from school and plays a recreational sport or hangs out with friends. You go from school to the practice field, practice back home, then you have to do school work. Life is not as relaxed as it is when you're not doing gymnastics.”
“But once you get that deep into it, you don't even realize you're doing it.”
Emerson's Lauterbach is also on the road this week, competing in an intercollegiate tournament in New Hampshire, but made sure to turn on the TV in his hotel room to watch his former teammates compete at the Olympic Trials.
“She's very humble, despite all of her success and all of the great things,” Lauterbach said. “Gymnastics only helps you to a certain extent in life, but outside of that she's an amazing person, and I think that's what's gotten her this far, along with her incredible dedication to the sport.”
Television ratings for the women's Olympic gymnastics trials rose 24 percent to an estimated 7.6 million viewers Sunday night, and Bergen County aficionados are optimistic that Rivera's appearance on a bigger stage will boost her local popularity.
“I think it definitely inspires a lot of people in small towns like Oradell, where she comes from, to believe they can achieve things just like she did,” Lauterbach said.
“Exactly,” Zappa said. “Gymnastics is a big part of the Summer Olympics. It's the most watched sport. Having local athletes there will really raise the level of gymnastics.”
