Laurie Hernandez, the gymnast who stole hearts at Rio 2016 and officially hung up her leotard in 2021, made a comeback at the Paris Olympics—but not the way you’d expect. This time, instead of flipping on the mat, she was behind the mic as a commentator. But let’s just say her stint as a broadcaster didn’t exactly stick the landing. Some of her comments ruffled feathers, turning a few of her die-hard fans into critics overnight.
The drama kicked off when Laurie weighed in on Suni Lee’s performance, suggesting that Suni needed to “set up that good energy” to avoid the dreaded “domino effect”—where one gymnast’s fall triggers a cascade of slip-ups from others. But fans weren’t having it. Some called her “such a hater” and “so negative.” Laurie didn’t stay silent, though. Addressing the backlash with E! News, she opened up about how tough it is to handle all the criticism. “It can be really difficult to release a lot of that,” she admitted.
She also added that while everyone’s entitled to their opinions, she hoped people would be kind when sharing their thoughts—and maybe think twice before tagging her directly. But hey, Laurie’s not one to stay down for long. She’s flipping the script and winning back fans in a whole new way—this time at the US Open, where she’s been charming everyone with her new on-court duties. Wondering what she’s up to now?
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In a recent Instagram post, Laurie gave us all a sneak peek into her latest gig—coin tossing at the US Open! Yep, you heard that right. During the match between Frances Tiafoe and Grigor Dimitrov, Laurie stepped up to flip the coin, adding her sparkle to the event. She captioned it with the perfect mix of excitement and humor: “I just flipped a coin for Tiafoe and Dimitrov WHAT @usopen!” Classic Laurie, right? She brought her signature charm to the court, making the moment even more memorable.
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From the Olympics to the US Open, is Laurie Hernandez redefining what it means to be a sports icon?
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But the drama didn’t stop there. In a twist of fate, Grigor Dimitrov had to bow out due to injury, handing the win to Tiafoe, who advanced to the US Open semi-final for the second time in three years. Tiafoe was trailing 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-1 when Dimitrov called it quits, blending Tiafoe’s resilience with a touch of luck on the grand stage.
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Laurie Hernandez, of course, shared a fun video montage of the whole experience—tossing the coin, posing with Tiafoe and Dimitrov, striking a gymnastics pose right beside the court, and even a few goofy moments thrown in for good measure. Her fans? Absolutely loving it. The comments section quickly filled with support and love for Laurie, who’s clearly back in the internet’s spotlight!
What’s your perspective on:
From the Olympics to the US Open, is Laurie Hernandez redefining what it means to be a sports icon?
Have an interesting take?
Laurie Hernandez wins the gymternet over again!
Laurie Hernandez is back in the spotlight, and her fans—and a few famous faces—are all in. After sharing her US Open coin-tossing adventures on Instagram, thousands of likes came pouring in, including from some pretty big names. We’re talking Simone Biles, Mikaela Shiffrin, Lindsey Vonn, and Gabby Thomas, just to name a few. And fans? They couldn’t resist dropping some golden comments. One playful nod to Laurie’s Olympic past read, “Gold medal coin flipping madame.” It’s the perfect shoutout to her golden legacy—after all, she snagged gold in the team event at Rio 2016 alongside none other than Simone Biles and also claimed silver on the balance beam.
But the fun didn’t stop there. Have you heard about the latest TikTok trend that’s taking social media by storm—“very mindful, very demure”? It’s all thanks to Chicago-based TikTok creator Jools Lebron, who went viral with her “How to be demure at work” video. And one of Laurie’s fans couldn’t help but draw a connection. “Do you see how she flips the coin?? Very mindful, very demure,” they commented, noting how composed Laurie looked in her coin flip, and then on the sidelines was her goofy self.
Who wouldn’t be a little jealous of Laurie Hernandez? She’s got her Olympic glory on one side, and now she’s rubbing elbows with tennis stars, starting their matches with a coin toss! One fan summed it up perfectly: “Frances Tiafoe and Grigor Dimitrov got to meet you, I’m actually so jealous.”
But Laurie Hernandez’s not just about flipping coins and charming crowds—she’s also making a real difference. Did you know she’s a passionate advocate for children’s rights? Last year, she was appointed a UNICEF ambassador and traveled to Panama to visit a safe space for children and families who’ve endured the dangerous journey through the Darién Gap. One fan couldn’t help but recognize her as a true representative of sports and humanity, saying, “What a great ambassador for America and all sports and athletes.”
And in true Laurie style, she brought some humor to the mix too. Another fan jumped in with a cheeky comment, “Ok, every former gymnast should start doing the ‘Simone Salute’ just to annoy FIG.🤣🤣🤣👏👏👏” They were referencing the infamous balance beam final where Simone Biles got docked points for not saluting the judges long enough. When Simone competed in the floor exercise round the next day, she made sure to hold her salute until she was completely off the mat, teasing the deduction in a way only the GOAT could pull off.
But the Paris teases didn’t stop there! During the Paris Olympics balance beam event, Laurie Hernandez couldn’t resist a playful jab, quipping, “Not to be a silly goose, but can someone check the beam?” as gymnasts, including Biles and Suni Lee, kept slipping off. One fan hilariously chimed in, “I was hilariously thinking ‘not to be a silly goose but…’ the whole time.” Laurie’s quick wit and ability to keep things lighthearted amid the heat of Olympic competition and now the US Open is what makes her such a fan favorite!
Debate
From the Olympics to the US Open, is Laurie Hernandez redefining what it means to be a sports icon?