By Members of Team USA’s women’s gymnastics continue to make headlines with their skills — and this time it’s specifically gold medalist Hezly Rivera.
The 16-year-old athlete — and youngest member of the 2024 U.S. Olympic women’s gymnastics team, dubbed Golden Girls — impressed people when she performed a flip before she threw a first pitch strike at the start of the game between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees at Globe Life Field on Sept. 4 in Arlington, Texas.
Video of the moment was shared by the MLB’s X account, calling the move “unreal.”
Originally a New Jersey native, she relocated to Plano, Texas, to train at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy, according to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth.
Rivera helped the women’s gymnastics team qualify for the Paris Olympics. While at the Rangers and Yankees game, Rivera proudly wore the gold medal she, along with Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, received after winning the team final.
Following her fun pitch, the Rangers also posted photos from the event on their Instagram, writing, “A perfect 🔟 for Olympic gold medalist, @hezrivera!”
It’s been an exciting time for the teen. While talking with TODAY’s Hoda Kotb after the trials in July, Rivera described her gymnastics experience thus far as “surreal.”
“I cannot believe that I’m here right now. It’s just — all my hard work has been paying off,” she said. “I’m so excited to represent Team USA at the Olympics. I’m, like, shocked.”
Throughout the Games, her Dominican parents, Henry Rivera and Heidy Ruiz, were also by her side cheering her on. Her father, who would be seen getting visibly emotional while watching her compete, told NBC Sports that he had “no words” to describe his feelings.
“I can’t describe everything that is going through my head,” he said. “It’s the biggest joy in the world.”
