The 16-year-old New Jersey native Hezly Rivera is all set to make her Olympic debut in Paris as the USA gymnast was recently added to the 2024 U.S. Olympic Women’s Gymnastic Team.
At such a young age, she became eligible for the senior team which is pretty admirable. But, hadn’t her parents Henry Rivera and Hiedy Ruiz been there for her, it would been completely impossible for Hezly to accomplish such a career height.
Talking to NBC, the youngest rookie of the Olympic Women’s Gymnastic Team said that her parents made many sacrifices just to see her where she is today. They even changed their residence and moved to Texas just for her.
In this regard, she said, “They are my number one support system, and always supporting me in life and in school. They are always there for everything and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
Parents of Hezly Rivera often showcase pride for whatever their daughter has achieved up to this date
Hezly Rivera has come a long way in the two years since she began her career as a professional athlete. It’s no wonder that her parents are so proud of her; their Facebook is evident.
Henry Rivera and his wife, Heidy Ruiz, often share their daughter’s gymnastic pictures on social media.
Some two years back, when Hezly competed in a Jr. Elite USA Gymnastics event for the first time and qualified for the USA Jr. Women’s National team, her father, Henry, showcased his happiness by sharing a lengthy post on LinkedIn.
Starting with, “Today has been a special day for my family,” Henry further detailed how much his daughter Hezly worked hard and overcame several injuries and fractures along the way to become a successful gymnast.
Further, he also thanked all the coaches and teachers who played a significant role in Hezly’s gymnastics journey and, lastly, hashtagged himself as a proud dad.
Hezly Rivera is Dominican by ethnicity, as her father, Henry, is originally from Santo Domingo
Emerging gymnast Hezly Rivera is the first ever Dominican named on the United States national gymnastics team.
Though Hezly was born and raised in the United States, her ancestry is in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, as her father, Henry Rivera, is originally from there.
Henry appears to have migrated to the United States for educational purposes. He graduated from Union Hill High School in New Jersey, attended Stevens Institute of Technology, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering in 2002.
Upon graduating, he began his career in New Jersey and settled there with his wife, Heidy, welcoming two children.
But even though he resides in the United States, he is absolutely proud of his Latino roots. Once, beneath the USA Gymnast’s Facebook post during Hispanic Heritage Month, he wrote, “I am proud to be Hispanic/Latino.”
Additional Information
- Hezly Rivera was born to her parents, Henry Rivera and Heidy Ruiz, on June 4, 2008.
- Hezly grew up in New Jersey with her younger brother, Hanley. At the age of 6, she started getting training for gymnastics.
- She now resides in Plano, Texas, with her family.
