Hezly Rivera’s debut at the Paris Olympics might be over sooner than expected. Although the young gymnast from Oradell has already made waves in her first international senior competition, the recently shared competitor list by USA Gymnastics indicates that Rivera will have to wait another four years for a chance at a medal. At just 16, Rivera faced the immense pressure of representing Team USA on the global stage. Unfortunately, she fell short of qualifying for an individual event after the qualifier round for the Paris Olympics.

As Rivera failed to qualify for the individual events, the decision on whether she would compete again in the Games depended on her coaches. Another deciding factor was perhaps the gymnastics queen, Simone Biles herself. Now, with the final lineup for the team event shared by USA Gymnastics on their X handle, Rivera is conspicuously absent from the list. The revised roster places veterans like Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, and Suni Lee in key positions, with Biles set to compete in the all-around despite her recent calf injury scare.

Besides the three experienced Olympians, Jade Carey has also been given the chance to show her prowess in the vault. The potential decision to rest Biles on the uneven bars (her relatively weakest event) after the qualifiers could have opened a spot for Rivera. However, Hezly Rivera’s score of 13.900 was overshadowed by Biles’ 14.433.

Will Hezly Rivera’s early exit in Paris set the stage for a triumphant return in L.A. in 2028?

The updated list of names for the final round of the Paris Olympics underscores the fierce competition that has been ongoing within Team USA itself. After Rivera’s performance on day 1 of women’s gymnastics in Paris, the reshuffling has sidelined her from her quest for the 2024 Summer Olympics. In the qualifiers, Rivera pulled off quite a controlled show and 13.900 in the uneven bars. However, she scored 12.633 on the balance beam and unfortunately finished fourth among the USA girls. She also jittered and stumbled a few times, falling short of balance. And this might be another reason why coaches put their trust in more seasoned athletes.

However, while her Paris journey seems to have ended, the invaluable experience she has gained will undoubtedly serve her well as she looks ahead to future competitions. And given her tender age of 16, her Paris quest marks the beginning of her career. Thus, we can undoubtedly keep our hopes high as we await Hezly Rivera’s comeback at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.