What were you up to at 16? You were probably juggling school, dipping your toes into different hobbies, and trying to find your footing. But for Hezly Rivera, she was dreaming big from a young age—at just five years old, she had her sights set on becoming a gymnast. Fast forward eleven years, and she made history as the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team that stood tall on the podium at the Paris Games. Now, as she gears up to graduate high school in 2026, she’s been weighing her options.

After checking out schools like Florida, Oklahoma, and LSU—home to the famous Olivia Dunne, both a talented gymnast and social media sensation—Hezly verbally announced going for LSU. With this, she made the first commitment in the Class of 2026 for the Tigers. So, why did she pick LSU? It seems the pieces of the puzzle are finally falling into place!

Hezly’s heartfelt reason for choosing LSU

On October 25th, NBC shared a video on YouTube featuring an interview with Hezly Rivera, hosted by Mary Omatiga. The segment was titled “Hezly Rivera Gains Confidence from Paris Experience, U.S. Olympic Teammates.” During the interview, Mary asked Hezly, “You took a couple of official college tours this summer, but you verbally committed to LSU last month. Why LSU? What stood out most about their program to you?”

With a bright smile, tied up in a high ponytail and wearing a white T-shirt with the USA flag on it, Hezly replied, “So for me, I chose LSU because it just felt like a family, and seeing how the coaches treat their gymnasts and coach them meant everything to me. I mean, it just felt so comfortable there, and I felt like it was home. So honestly, everything was great about it; I loved every single minute, but I would say the culture of LSU is what made me choose it.”

Hezly’s choice to commit to LSU really shows that finding the right fit isn’t just about the glitz and glamor; it’s all about those connections that make you feel at home. Olivia Dunne’s warm welcome to Hezly perfectly captures that vibe.

When Hezly Rivera announced her commitment after visiting various colleges, Livvy couldn’t contain her excitement, sharing, “Olympics [to] LSU! Let’s geauxxx [Hezly Rivera]!” She even posted a cute photo of the two together, calling Hezly “Baby Tig.” But in return, Hezly expressed her gratitude on Instagram, saying, “I am so blessed and excited to announce that I have verbally committed to Louisiana State University (LSU) on a full athletic scholarship. Thank you, Jesus, for this wonderful blessing!”

For someone like Hezly, who has such impressive talent, the opportunities at LSU are incredible, especially with their NIL collective. It’s a fantastic chance for her to build her brand while going head-to-head with some of the best in NCAA gymnastics.

As the LSU gymnastics team aims to repeat its success, Hezly Rivera is super excited to learn from Olivia, who has been competing since she was just three years old. With Livvy Dunne getting ready for her final year with the Tigers, Hezly knows she’s in a prime position to soak up some invaluable knowledge from such a seasoned athlete.

There is an opportunity for Hezly to achieve success following her tenure at LSU, with the current landscape of college sports evolving rapidly. However, the crucial query remains: to what extent can Hezly utilize this background to enhance her market worth and income prospects?

Olivia Dunne turned fame into fortune while Hezly Rivera trained for greatness

Olivia Dunne is truly a star in her own right, becoming one of the most popular athletes in college sports and attracting plenty of attention from brands during the NIL era. With over 8.1 million followers on TikTok and 5.3 million on Instagram, Livvy has really capitalized on her massive following, raking in a whopping $9.5 million during her time at LSU. According to On3.com, she’s making around $4 million a year.

While there’s no word yet on any brand sponsorships or earnings for Hezly Rivera, the future looks bright for her. After all, she moved from Oradell, New Jersey, to Texas in 2021 to train at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy in Plano. There, she’s getting top-notch coaching from Valeri and Anna Liukin, who are the parents of five-time Olympic medalist Nastia Liukin.

With a training pedigree that includes famous gymnasts like Carly Patterson, Gabby Douglas, and Skye Blakely, Hezly Rivera is part of a legacy that’s produced a remarkable 36 World and Olympic medals, setting her up for a promising career ahead.