Historic Comeback: Hezly Rivera Wins Second Straight U.S. Title

Summary:

• Hezky Rivera rallied from fourth after the opening night to win her second straight U.S. all-around title.
• She is the second woman in 13 years to repeat as U.S. champion after Simone Biles.
• Rivera is targeting Olympic team, all-around and individual apparatus medals in Los Angeles.

Hezly Rivera has emerged as the leading American women’s gymnast of the moment after producing a historic comeback to win her second consecutive U.S. all-around championship.

Rivera, who was the youngest U.S. Olympian across all sports at the 2024 Paris Games, entered the second night of the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Phoenix sitting fourth in the all-around standings.

She responded with a strong performance across the final four events to finish with 111.95 points and beat training partner Claire Pease by 1.15 points.

She Joined Simone Biles

The comeback was the first at the U.S. Championships from fourth place or lower since Courtney Kupets rallied from fourth to win the title in 2003.

Rivera’s victory also put her in rare company. She is only the second woman in the last 13 years to successfully defend the U.S. all-around title, following Simone Biles, who has won a record nine national all-around championships.

I wasn’t looking at the scoreboard; I was just focused on myself and my gymnastics and what I had to do

Rivera said during the NBC Sports broadcast. She added that taking the pressure off herself helped her stay relaxed throughout the competition.

“Unfinished Business”

The result represents a significant step forward for Rivera, who had a limited role at the Paris Olympics. At just 16, she competed in qualifying but did not compete in the Olympic team final, where Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles represented the U.S.

Now, with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics approaching, Rivera is taking on a much larger role in the next generation of American gymnastics.

Her path has had some hiccups, however, as she missed the opportunity to make her world championships debut last year after suffering a sprained ankle.