Suni Lee's Paris Olympics gold medal-winning teammate Hezly Rivera shares her favorite moment with the 21-year-old

Hezly Rivera, the US gymnastics teammate of six-time Olympic medalist Suni Lee, opened up about her favorite moment with her compatriot. Both Lee and Rivera represented the United States at this year's Paris Olympics.

Lee and Rivera were part of the American team that won the gold medal in the all-around event in Paris; a feat marked the country's first gold in the event since the 2016 Rio Olympics. Although Rivera did not get to perform in the team final, she was awarded a gold medal as part of the team.

Lee had an impressive campaign in Paris, winning two bronze medals in the individual all-around and the uneven bars. Her medal on the uneven bars helped her make history as she became the first American gymnast to earn two Olympic medals in the event, having previously secured a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

Rivera recently hosted a Q&A session for her fans on her Instagram handle, where one fan asked about her favorite moment with Lee. In response, the 16-year-old shared a collage of pictures with Lee and wrote:

"Any moment spent with Suni love her."

Screenshot from Hezly Rivera's Instagram stories

After their Paris Olympics exploits, Suni Lee took some time off from the sport to embark on a fashion adventure, a field she has expressed interest in pursuing as a potential career after she is done with gymnastics. Meanwhile, Hezly Rivera joined forces with her teammates Simone Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and others on the Gold Over America Tour in September.

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Suni Lee revealed how she and Hezly Rivera bonded over morning walks at the Paris Olympics

American team during the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Source: Getty)

Hezly Rivera, the youngest member of the US team for the Paris Olympics, found a bond with her senior teammate Suni Lee. The latter stated that the former was often quiet in the gym. So they would go for morning walks, where she used to crack jokes to make Rivera laugh and help her feel included.

"Every morning Hezly and I would go on a walk, we would get coffee, she would have her chocolate muffin, and then we’re making TikToks 24/7," Lee said. "She’s very quiet in the gym, so we would try and crack jokes. I’m like, ‘You can laugh a little in the gym. It doesn’t have to be serious all the time." (via October interview with Glamour Magazine)

In response, Rivera expressed her gratitude to Lee, saying:

"She always reminded me to take a step back and just simply soak in the moment. It helped me appreciate every aspect of my first Olympics experience and recognize how special it was. She is not only a mentor to me but a friend."

Suni Lee recently graced the cover of Glamour Magazine and was named one of the magazine's Women of the Year.