The excitement around LSU gymnastics is through the roof as they set their sights on 2024 Olympian Hezly Rivera! Fresh off their NCAA championship win, the Tigers are rolling out the welcome mat for four recruits. And the big name on everyone’s lips? Rivera! This summer, she wowed everyone as the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic team in Paris, taking home gold with heavyweights like Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Suni Lee.

However, fans can’t stop chatting about where Hezly Rivera might land, especially over on Reddit. LSU is definitely making a strong pitch, but she’s also checking out Florida and Oklahoma. But will she choose to wear LSU’s purple and gold, or will another college steal her away? The gymnastics world is buzzing, eager to see what she’ll decide! But before that, LSU got a chance.

Recently, Hezly dropped a hint on Instagram that everyone is speculating. She just wrapped up an official tour at LSU as she explores her college options. As she visited LSU, Hezly Rivera shared her experience on Instagram, giving fans a sneak peek of her time on campus, including a tour of the gymnastics training center. “If you guessed LSU, you were right! Last official visit,” she wrote, adding some excitement to the moment.

LSU has really made a name for itself in collegiate gymnastics, having just won the 2024 NCAA Gymnastics Championships. Alongside Rivera, three other gymnasts—Dulcy Caylor, Zoey Molomo, and Avery Lowe—were also among the visitors at LSU. While Hezly is currently pursuing her high school education through a virtual institution, Connection Academy, and is set to graduate in 2026, her focus on gymnastics remains sharp. But it looks like the gymnastics community wants Hezly Rivera to join the University of Florida rather than LSU.

The rivalry between Florida and LSU for Hezly Rivera’s signature

Among the many comments from fans, a few really caught my eye. One fan said, “Florida. No particular reason except that the majority of people coached by Maggie have ended up at least committed to Florida.” It looks like there’s a strong desire for her to join the University of Florida, a place with a rich gymnastics tradition.

The Florida Gators women’s gymnastics team has produced some incredible talent over the years. Take Leanne Wong, for instance—she’s a rising senior who was headed to the Paris Olympics as a replacement athlete for the 2024 U.S. Olympic team, and she had just won the NCAA uneven bars title! Then there’s Skye Blakely, who deferred her enrollment to chase an Olympic spot, winning gold with the U.S. at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships.

And let’s not forget Kayla DiCello, who was an alternate for the U.S. gold medal team at the 2023 FIG World Championships and played a key role in the team’s success at the Pan Am Games. Even Trinity Thomas, a true legend in the making, finished her college career with a record-tying 28 perfect 10s and five gym slams! While fans are buzzing about Maggie’s coaching impact, it’s still a bit unclear who she is in all of this.

One more added, “Florida. She seemed the most excited about it. Out of the recruits that went to LSU this weekend I see Zoe Molomo there the most. Everyone else just seems like from vibes that they will go to other schools.” Another added, “I think Florida is actually a good fit for her and she’ll probably pick it – unless Jay swayed her this weekend.”

One more fan humorously noted, “I straight up mistakenly thought she was already committed to LSU 😂But I think she would really thrive at UF.” At just 16, she has two years of high school remaining. Meanwhile, Florida is viewed as LSU’s main rival for her commitment, though the Tigers hold some advantages.

Rivera, originally from Hackensack, New Jersey, began her gymnastics journey at ENA Gymnastics, training alongside Olivia Dunne, who returned to LSU for her fifth season in 2025. She now trains at WOGA in Plano, Texas. With Olivia Dunne being one of the highest-valued NIL athletes and having a connection with Hezly, this recruitment story just got a lot more interesting! One fan shared their thoughts, saying, “I’m hoping for LSU (my team), but she definitely has Florida vibes with Kayla, Skye, and Trinity (as a coach) all being there.” It’s clear this fan is rooting for LSU, but they can’t help but see the appeal of joining a team with such legendary figures in Florida!