After nearly a year away from the international spotlight, Hezley Rivera is ready to step back onto the global stage, and this time, she’ll be doing it as the face of a new American era. USA Gymnastics has named the 16-year-old to lead the U.S. women’s team at the 2025 Pan American Championships in Panama City, marking her first international appearance since contributing to Team USA’s Olympic team gold in Paris. While she made a quiet return earlier this year with a beam-only routine at the Winter Cup, Panama will be her true reintroduction.
All eyes will be on how she carries the weight of a team missing some of its most decorated names. At just 16, Hezley Rivera had found herself surrounded by living legends. Simone Biles, with seven Olympic golds to her name, and Sunisa Lee, the 2021 all-around champion. But Hezley didn’t flinch. And now, she’s ready to lead Team USA into a new chapter. One notably without Olympic gold medalist Jade Carey and UCLA superstar Jordan Chiles, both left off the Pan Ams roster. Their absence marks a changing of the guard, and Hezley is stepping up to the moment. This is a team built on momentum and fresh ambition.
Olympic champion Hezley Rivera is set for a high-stakes international return at the upcoming Pan American Championships and she’s not coming back quietly. 2024 was a breakout year for Hezley Rivera. Not just because she made the Olympic team, but because she made it count. In a surprising turn, Rivera is the lone Paris gold medalist selected for the Pan Ams, signaling a shift in focus toward the next generation of U.S. talent. At the Olympic Trials, she had dazzled on balance beam, scoring an eye-popping 27.975 and outscoring both Biles and Lee. That moment wasn’t just a fluke. It was a signal: the kid from New Jersey was ready to play on the biggest stage. Still, Hezley knew that pure talent alone wouldn’t be enough. So she leaned into the wisdom of the very legends she stood alongside.
In a candid reflection, she shared how Biles and Lee became more than teammates. They became mentors. Whether it was grounding her mentally or guiding her through the Olympic grind, both women were instrumental in helping Hezley find her edge. “They told me that’s the most important thing. I know how to do my gymnastics. I just try to not overthink, basically, and they really helped me with that,” the 16-year-old said. And it wasn’t just pep talk. Suni Lee, in particular, became a real presence in Hezley’s day-to-day. Walking with her to meals, coffee runs, and even casual chats helped her breathe in a high-pressure atmosphere. Fast-forward to 2025, and Rivera still carrying those lessons with her.
As the only returning Olympian on a reimagined U.S. squad at the Pan American Championships, she now finds herself in the mentor’s role. Team USA is brimming with fresh fire. Athletes like Dulcy Caylor, Jayla Hang, and Gabrielle Hardy stepping into the spotlight while Rivera leads with quiet confidence. With Tiana Sumanasekera moving from alternate to core competitor and Alessia Rosa preparing for her international debut, this isn’t a team of resumes. It’s a team of promise. And Hezley is helping shape what’s next, hoping to reignite the legacy that Jordan Chiles and Team USA last stamped on the Pan Ams back in 2023.
A shift in U.S. Gymnastics leadership
Two years ago in Santiago, Jordan Chiles delivered a masterclass in leadership and execution, reminding the world why she’s one of Team USA’s most reliable anchors. On October 22, under the high-stakes spotlight of the Pan American Games women’s gymnastics team final, Chiles guided the Americans to their sixth straight Pan Am title with a commanding team score of 165.196. Nearly four points clear of Brazil and well ahead of bronze medalist Canada. Her presence wasn’t just reassuring; it was foundational. Chiles was the calm force, the leader, and, more often than not, the one raising the standard.
She dominated in the qualifiers, climbing to the top of the all-around leaderboard with a 54.666. Her 14.099 vault was the highest among Americans, and her 14.100 on the bars earned her a solid position in the event finals. There was something unmistakable about her focus. The kind that turns pressure into performance. But when the Artistic Pan American Championships roster dropped this year, there was one surprising omission. No Jordan Chiles! Her absence marked a turning point, and filling that void? the 16-year-old Jersey native, Hezly Rivera.
Hezley, who was once the youngest in a team of Olympic greats, now stands with her eyes firmly on the horizon. “My goals are the 2025 Worlds and ’26, ’27, and then the Olympics in 2028,” she said, sharing her clear and calculated vision. “But, obviously, I have little goals to worry about each and every day…” Hezley Rivera isn’t just chasing medals. She’s building a legacy. One step at a time, she’s embracing the role Jordan once held: guiding the team, owning the moment, and shaping the future.
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