NEW ORLEANS — Hezly Rivera rose to the occasion.
The 17-year-old Olympic champion gymnast surged ahead to secure a victory at the U.S. gymnastics championships this Sunday, showcasing her readiness to lead the women’s program as preparations begin for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
Rivera, the youngest participant on the five-member team that clinched first place in Paris the previous year, achieved a cumulative score of 112.000 over two days, a mere 0.8 points ahead of second-place Leanne Wong.
Following an unsteady performance at the U.S. Classic three weeks prior, where she ranked 12th, Rivera delivered an outstanding display, almost guaranteeing her inclusion on the four-member world championship team destined for Jakarta, Indonesia, this October.
Rivera secured a place at the world championship selection camp scheduled for next month. Wong, a four-time world championship medalist, also earned a spot. Joscelyn Roberson, an Olympic alternate from last summer who finished third, is also expected to attend the selection camp, as the three experienced athletes distinguished themselves from a predominantly youthful group of competitors.
In contrast to Asher Hong’s straightforward victory in the men’s competition on Saturday, Rivera faced a more challenging path. Wong, a pre-med student at Florida and a budding entrepreneur with a history of consistent performance over the past four-plus years, kept the pressure on throughout four rotations.
Wong challenged Rivera from the outset and maintained the intensity for two hours. Rivera consistently responded – achieving the highest scores in three of the four events – but only found relief after stepping off the podium following her floor routine with the victory confirmed.
Roberson appeared poised to contend for the top spot until she aggravated her ankle during the floor exercise in the second rotation. Despite visibly limping, the rising sophomore at Arkansas persevered. She completed her vault dismount with determination, although the 0.5-point deduction for using extra padding for protection diminished her chances in the all-around competition.
Skye Blakely, who faced injuries during the Olympic Trials in both 2021 and 2024, excelled on the uneven bars and balance beam, positioning herself as a contender for a spot on the world team.
