Hezly Rivera steps into the spotlight at US gymnastics championships

USA Today

13 hours ago

Hezly Rivera has the spotlight all to herself.
A year after her unexpected inclusion on the Paris Olympic team, Rivera served notice that she's going to be a gymnast to watch in the leadup to the Los Angeles Games. The 17-year-old won her first title at the U.S. gymnastics championships on Sunday night, establishing herself as a favorite for the all-around at the world championships this fall.
'It means the world to me,' Rivera said. 'I've worked so hard for this. It was not easy coming back after the Olympics.'
The world championships are Oct. 19-25 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The women's team will be announced later, while national champion Asher Hong; Paris Olympian Brody Malone; Brandon Dang; Patrick Hoopes; Kameron Nelson and Donnell Whittenburg made the men's team.
Then 16, Rivera was a longshot to make the Paris team. But injuries to world medalists Shilese Jones and Skye Blakely at the Olympic trials gave Rivera an opportunity, and she grabbed it.
Rivera was the youngest member of all of Team USA. Though she only did two events in qualifying and did not compete in the team final, she will forever be an Olympic champion alongside Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey.
Now, with her Olympic teammates all taking a break, Rivera is showing she can hold her own.
Her score Sunday of 56.4 points was the highest in the world this year (I put no stock in Russian Cup scores), and her two-day score of 112 was 0.800 points ahead of Leanne Wong.
Rivera also tied with Blakely for the top score on uneven bars and was first on balance beam and floor exercise.
Now, this doesn't mean Rivera is a lock for Los Angeles. Of the women who were on the podium at the last two national championships following an Olympic Games, only Jordan Chiles went on to make the next Olympic team. (Chiles was the silver medalist in 2017 and the bronze medalist in 2022.)
But Rivera is carrying herself like the Olympic champion she is. If she stays healthy, this title will be the first of many.
Here are other takeaways from the U.S. gymnastics championships:
Skye Blakely returns
Skye Blakely looks as good as ever.
The two-time world championship medalist was considered a lock for Paris before tearing her Achilles during training at the Olympic trials. This after she'd torn an elbow ligament during the 2021 Olympic trials.
But Blakely, 20, hasn't been deterred, saying she plans to go through Los Angeles.
She made her return at the national championships, tying with Rivera for the top score on uneven bars, her signature event. Blakely was second to Rivera on balance beam, though her 14.4 on Day 2 was the highest score on the event of the entire competition.
Joscelyn Roberson's floor routine
Joscelyn Roberson isn't messing around with her floor routine.
The Paris alternate, who trained with Simone Biles before going to Arkansas last year, has a monster 6.5 start value on floor. That's the highest for any American on any event right now, and is the toughest floor routine being done in the world right now.
(Biles had a 6.8 start value on floor last year, but she's otherworldly.)
Roberson had some issues with some of her landings, and she crunched her ankle when she came up short on a pass Sunday night. But give her a few more months to train the routine, and she should be in contention for a medal at the world championships.
Men's title
Asher Hong is the U.S. champion, but Brody Malone remains the U.S. man to beat.
Malone, a three-time U.S. champion, only did four events at nationals because of a knee injury. But his 16.251 on high bar on Day 2 was the highest score of the entire meet and is a routine that will put him in contention for a medal at the world championships.
Malone also had the highest two-day score on parallel bars, was second on still rings and third on pommel horse.
Hong won his second U.S. title easily, finishing more than 7 points ahead of fellow Paris Olympian Frederick Richard. That's the largest margin of victory ever at the U.S. championships.
Neither Richard nor Stephen Nedoroscik made the world team. Nedoroscik, who endeared himself to the entire country as 'The Pommel Horse Guy,' has only been training for three months and fell on his routine on Day 2.
Paul Juda retires
Paul Juda went out on top.
Juda announced his retirement during an in-meet interview with NBC on Saturday night. He was the only member of the bronze-medal-winning U.S. men's team who didn't compete at the national championships.
'I just realized, in this moment, there was nothing more that I wanted to achieve in this sport,' Juda said. '... Sometimes you've got to know when to walk away. And I'm happy doing that today.'
Juda making the Paris squad was something of a surprise, but he made the most of his Olympic moment. He helped the U.S. men win bronze, their first Olympic medal since 2008, and was the top American in the all-around.
After joining Simone Biles' G.O.A.T. tour, Juda returned to Michigan for his final season. He helped the Wolverines win the NCAA title and finished second to Frederick Richard in the all-around, then proposed to longtime girlfriend Reyna Guggino after the meet.
'This has been the journey of a lifetime,' Juda said Saturday. 'I've got no regrets. I'm full of joy and I'm ready to move on with my life. So thank you so much for the ride and the emotions and the highs and the lows. It's been the best, best, best years of my life.'
Follow Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.