After facing ‘twisties’ during the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Simone Biles seems to have redeemed herself during the Paris Summer Games this year. The world-class gymnast, alongside her teammates, dominated the Women’s Subdivision 2 on the 28th of July. She wasn’t alone in her quest to conquer the arena. Apart from the rest of the members, another highlighted one that is worthy of your attention is Hezly Rivera.

Team USA did not slack while assembling the gymnastics team. While Simone Biles is the life of the arena, thanks to her graceful athleticism, Rivera wasn’t far behind in stealing the limelight. The special attention goes to the age at which she is accomplishing all of it.

Simone Biles and Hezly Rivera make their homeland proud

The lineup for the four sessions started with Beams and ended with Bars. While Biles was a part of all four lineups, her 16-year-old teammate was present only to kick off the sessions and end them. Hezly Rivera was second-up during the first session when Team USA was on the Balance Beams. She seemed a bit on edge during the first routine, which ended up with her getting a score of 12.633. On the other hand, the legendary Simone Biles closed the BB with an excellent score of 14.733. Rivera’s performance went as follows: Split mount; wolf 2/1; aerial, a little under-rotated and steps forward; FF, LSO, lifts the leg; switch, stops; switch half, small check; front aerial, split, straddle and falls onto the beam; switch ring; FF, FF, double pike, two steps forward.

The teenager from New Jersey opened the final session. Her skill on the Uneven Bars could have been the same as her first one, but she pulled herself through like a true athlete and delivered a strong and confident routine, getting her an improved score of 13.900 while Simone Biles captured 14.433 for her people. This was the young performance for UB: Weiler 1/2, toe 1/1, stalder Shaposh, Ricna; Pak; Maloney, Tkatchev, a little close; full out.

Overall, all the stars on Team USA shone brightly, but there seemed to be a slight challenge, which may affect their performance in the all-around final.

Will Simone Biles be withdrawing from the competition in 2024 as well?

The artistic gymnast, who has been making her nation proud, withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for the finals because her body and mind were out of sync. Although things may not turn out that way this year, she has injured one of her legs, as was a little evident during her performances. According to The Washington Post, Simone Biles had medical tape wrapped around her left calf, which was not there during the Olympic Trials. It was later confirmed by Emily Giambalvo of the same source that Biles had hurt herself while trying to deliver the best performance for her team and people.

Coach Cecile Landi from Team USA spoke on Biles’ behalf and said, “She felt better at the end. On bars, she started to feel better.” She had injured herself a couple of weeks ago, and the same injury had flared up. But since Coach Landi has given a positive word on behalf of the athlete, supporters of the team and the gymnast probably have nothing to worry about. Both Biles and Sunisa Lee will advance to the all-around final on July 31st. The former has time to rest herself and get better until then.

Although Hezly Rivera won’t be there to perform, the young gymnast still outdid herself and made her family, friends, coach, and the nation proud, working alongside one of the greatest in the sport.