Hezly Rivera has shown that she is no longer the young newcomer who surprised everyone at the Paris Olympics. The 18-year-old Olympic gold medallist won her second straight US women’s gymnastics title after overcoming a fall on the uneven bars earlier in the competition. Rivera finished with a two-day total of 111.950 points, more than one point ahead of runner-up Claire Pease.Her victory made her the first American woman other than Simone Biles to win back-to-back national titles since former world and Olympic champion Jordyn Wieber achieved the feat in 2011 and 2012.From Olympic underdog to national championRivera described herself as an “underdog” two years ago when she was selected for the US Olympic team for Paris. She was the youngest and least-known member of a highly experienced team that won the women’s team gold medal. It was the Americans’ third team Olympic title in four Games.While several of her Olympic teammates, including Biles and Suni Lee, have taken extended breaks from competition, Rivera has continued to compete.Lee announced last month that she had started training again with the aim of returning to competition.Rivera won her first national title in New Orleans last year after edging Leanne Wong.Rivera’s hopes of defending her title looked uncertain after she fell face-first onto the mat during the uneven bars competition on Thursday. She missed a release and could not stay on the apparatus. But Rivera responded strongly on the final day. She started Sunday on bars and produced a determined routine. She managed to recover from a small stall near the end before completing her dismount with a small step.Charleigh Bullock, who turned 16 last month, finished third. Reese Esponda, who trains at the Houston-area gym owned by Biles’ family, took fourth place.Two-time Olympic gold medallist Jade Carey finished fifth.Carey is continuing to add difficulty to her routines as she targets a third appearance at the Olympic Games. The result also marked a homecoming for the Phoenix native.
