In Pictures: Hezly Rivera shares glimpses of Punta Cana Christmas vacation with family amid Holiday season

Hezly Rivera traveled to Punta Cana to spend the Christmas holidays with her family. The 16-year-old made her Olympic debut in Paris this year, winning gold with the US women's gymnastics team.

Rivera was the youngest of the US women's gymnastics team, dubbed 'Golden Girls' that won gold at the 2024 Paris Games. Following her Paris exploits, she verbally committed to Louisiana State University to start classes in 2027.

Enjoying off-season, the Olympian landed in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, her father's native country to celebrate Christmas with the family. Rivera enjoyed in a red, white-bordered dress on the beach and wore a pink bikini for a swim in the pool. She also posed for mirror selfies with her family in matching white outfits.

"merry christmas from punta cana," she captioned her Instagram post.

Rivera has two siblings, a brother named Hanly and a sister called Carhelis. Her parents, Henry and Heidy have been supporters of her gymnastics endeavors since she first showed interest after attending a friend's birthday party at a gymnastics facility in 2013.

Hezly Rivera trained at ENA in Paramus and under Maggie Hanley till 2020 before moving to Texas to be coached by the legendary Valeri Liukin.

Hezly Rivera once shared she will vie for the next Worlds and the 2028 Olympic Games

Hezly Rivera at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Women's Gymnastics - (Source: Getty)

The youngest member of the US women's gymnastics squad attended the training camp earlier in December this year as a frontrunner when most of her senior teammates were taking breaks or pursuing college gymnastics. In an exclusive interview with Olympics.com, she reflected on her stint as a veteran at the camp, saying:

"I actually didn’t even think about being like a veteran at camp but it was definitely cool to be back. I was really happy, and I enjoyed it.”

The New Jersey native then shared her plan to compete at the 2025 Worlds and the 2028 LA Games.

"My goals are the 2025 Worlds, and ’26, ’27, and then the Olympics in 2028. Those are my long-term goals. But, obviously, I have little goals to worry about each and every day. I just set tiny goals, not just every day, but like every month, and just take it one step at a time and see where it takes me.”

Hezly Rivera won two silver in the team competition and floor exercise at the 2023 Junior World Championships. She made her senior elite debut at the 2024 Winter Cup, winning first in the balance beam and third in the all-around. Her overall sixth finish in the National Championships advanced her to the Olympic trials.