Tue Dec 17 18:09:11 UTC 2024: ## 16-Year-Old Olympic Gold Medalist Hezly Rivera Commits to LSU

**BATON ROUGE, LA** – Hezly Rivera, the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team and a recent gold medalist at the Paris Olympics, has announced her commitment to Louisiana State University (LSU) for the upcoming NCAA season. The 16-year-old phenom, who already boasts a Junior World Championships team silver and all-around national title, will join the reigning national champion Tigers on a full athletic scholarship.

Rivera’s decision, announced via Instagram, followed a series of college visits. She cited LSU’s family-like atmosphere and coaching style as key factors in her choice, noting that the team felt like home. The influence of LSU star gymnast Olivia Dunne, who publicly welcomed Rivera with a supportive social media post, also played a role. Dunne, known for her significant social media presence and popularity, is entering her final year with LSU.

Despite her recent Olympic success and participation in Simone Biles’ Gold Over America tour, Rivera expressed excitement about returning to a more regular training schedule and the challenges of collegiate gymnastics. She plans to seek advice from her Olympic teammates, Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles, who have navigated the transition from elite competition to the NCAA.

At the US National Gymnastics camp, Rivera, despite her young age, is already considered a veteran among her peers, many of whom are taking breaks or returning to college. While she’s looking forward to the NCAA season and learning from Dunne, she’s also focused on continuing to improve her skills and aims for continued success at LSU. The future looks bright for this young star, and many are already wondering if she is indeed the future of American gymnastics.

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