"Hezly Rivera was not ignored";"This is very icky to me"- Fans divided over 16-year-old being seemingly ignored during victory celebration at Olympics

The women's US gymnastics team clinched the gold in the team all-around event with their incredible performance on Day 4 of the Paris Olympics. However, fans on social media gave their mixed opinions on a video of the US women's gymnastics team's celebration, where Hezly Rivera was not included in the group hug shared by Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Jade Carey.

The US team earned an overall score of 171.296 and defeated Italy, who claimed second place by a six-point gap, while Brazil stood third on the podium with a seven-point gap. This was the first gold medal for the US team since 2016. However, Rivera wasn't included in the roster of the team all-around finals and was seen left out of the group hug after the team celebrated their win.

Some fans reacted to the celebration video and claimed that Hezly Rivera, who did not compete in the finals, was ignored during the victory celebrations, while other fans defended the four veterans.

One of the fans, who wasn't happy with Rivera being left out of the celebration, said:

"This is very icky to me, Hezly is 16 and this is already a very new and overwhelming experience for her, why add to her stress by isolating her and causing her to stick out like this??? Y’all are GROWN women come on do better."

On the contrary, another follower took the team's side and said they were celebrating a 'long-awaited redemption', while claiming Hezly was understanding of the situation.

"I can see it as the other 4 collectively feeling that long-awaited redemption together. Hezly was not ignored. She knows their situation and they still celebrated with her."

One of the users expressed their disappointment and wrote,

"I don’t CARE if she didn’t compete today she’s a member of the team and while y’all are doing your group hugs you have her wandering around the floor looking lost like pleaseeeeeee this is so so so so so bad."

Another follower took the team's side and said:

"This isn't anybody's fault because they just won gold together and they deserve to celebrate with the people they did it with but still damn."

One of the users, heartbroken by Rivera's situation, commented:

"I'm sorry this horrible."

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Hezly Rivera opens up about Team USA's gold win at the Paris Olympics

Hezly Rivera, who wasn't included in the team's all-around finals at the Paris Olympics, opened up about the team's win in a recent interview with NBC. She said that it was an amazing experience for her and that she was happy with the team's hard work. (as quoted by nbcdfw)

"This was such an amazing experience and just being with the team to support them meant the world to me," Hezly Rivera said. "It was so surreal you know. My mind was everywhere. I am so happy to be here and this team has worked so hard."

She also revealed that she would have never believed that she would be in the position she is currently in:

"“I could not have imagined that and I am just so excited and never would have thought that would have happened. Bars and beam are what I can contribute to the team. So when I hit bars and beam I knew that I had a shot."

Hezly Rivera further added:

"I am so grateful to be here and to be selected on this Olympic team. I have made so many sacrifices to get here so I want to thank God, my coaches, family, my friends and my teammates. I just can’t believe that I am here."

Hezly Rivera's clinched her first Olympic gold medal after a pivotal role in the U.S. Gymnastics Team in her debut appearance at the quadrennial games.