Teen Olympian From Bergen County Got Into Sports Thanks To A Birthday Party, She Says

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Several New Jersey athletes are heading to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, including one teen gymnast from Bergen County.

Hezly Rivera, 16, of Oradell, first became interested in the sport thanks to a birthday party, she said.

According to her bio, "At the age of 5 I attended a friend's birthday party that was celebrated in a gymnastics facility and the staff at the facility
approached my parents and told them that they should try to have me try out for the team and that's what they did."

Hezly was born in Hackensack. Her favorite thing about gymnastics is, "flipping in the air and my teammates," she said.

She has won a slew of honors and competitions during her athletic career.

She "made the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics team after dazzling at the Olympic trials," noted U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez last week, congratulating the state's three Olympians.

Rivera posted a photo of herself on her Instagram on Monday, saying simply, "Paris!"

One other Bergen County native is headed to the games: fencer Mitchell Saron of Ridgewood, a Harvard alum.

Also from New Jersey are Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of Dunellen — who set a new world record of 50.65 seconds in the women’s 400-meter hurdles during the U.S. Track & Field Olympic Trials — and Fairleigh Dickinson University jumper Salif Mane, who achieved his personal best of 17.52 meters to earn his spot on Team USA.

Menendez said last week, “I congratulate them for their historic feats on their way to the biggest stage in all sports. New Jersey and the rest of the United States will watch and cheer as they compete to bring gold back home from Paris.”

The 2024 Olympics will begin this Friday, July 26.

Read more about Hezly Rivera here.