Paris Olympics gold medalist Hezly Rivera reveals her favorite gymnastics skill

Hezly Rivera recently revealed her favorite gymnastics skill to fans on social media: the double layout. Known for its technical difficulty and grace, the move exemplifies athletic power and precision.

Performing the double layout requires a gymnast to execute two consecutive flips in an extended body position while maintaining a straight alignment throughout the rotation. This challenging skill requires explosive takeoff power, impeccable core strength, and flawless mid-air control.

During an 'Ask me a question' session via her Instagram stories on January 4, Rivera responded to a query about her favorite skill on the mat. The Olympic gold medalist responded with a video showcasing her performing a double layout on the floor, accompanied by a caption:

"Double layout on floor!"

Screenshot of Hezly Rivera's Instagram Story/ Source: Instagram/ @hezrivera

Hezly Rivera's steady rise as a standout senior competitor is evident in her career milestones. In 2022, she secured medals in major competitions, including a third-place all-around finish at the Winter Cup, gold at the DTB Pokal Team Challenge, and a bronze on the floor at the National Championships.

The 16-year-old built on this success in 2023, capturing titles in the all-around- beam and floor at the Winter Cup and contributing to Team USA's silver at the Junior World championships.

Rivera continues to set ambitious goals, as she recently revealed her targets for the 2025 World Championships and the 2028 LA Olympics games.

---

Hezly Rivera reveals her plans for the 2025 Worlds and LA 2028 post-Olympic success

Simone Biles, Jade Crey, Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Less, and Hezly Rivera at the Olympic Games-Paris 2024 - Source: Getty

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Hezly Rivera secured gold as part of Team USA in the women's gymnastics team final despite not competing in the final event. She did not qualify for individual events or the team final lineup. However, at just 16 years, she was the youngest member of Team USA across all sports in Paris games.

Following her gold medal achievements, she is transitioning into a leadership role within the national team. With her sights set on long-term milestones, she aims to compete in the 2025 World Championships and the 2028 LA Olympics, hinting at her commitment to advance her career at the highest levels of sport.

While talking to Olympics.com in December 2024, she expressed her approach to her long-term goals:

“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," she said.

Hezly Rivera is set to join Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2026 as a part of its gymnastics program. She will be preparing to navigate the dual demands of elite and college-level gymnastics by seeking advice from seasoned teammates like Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey.