Gymnastics chose Rivera
Rivera’s sports origin story is proof that sometimes destinies align: When she was 5, she attended a friend’s birthday party at a gymnastics stadium, where she stood out so much that a staff member approached her parents. The staff member encouraged Rivera to try out for the team, and the rest is history.
Now (11 years later) she trains with WOGA Gymnastics in the Dallas, Texas area and is coached by Valeri and Anna Liukin, the parents and coaches of Beijing 2008 all-around champion Nastia Liukin.
Rivera trained with the best players.
Rivera was born just months before her current coach’s daughter, Nastia, stood at the top of the world with the Olympic all-around gold medal around her neck, and four years later, Gabby Douglas stood in the same spot with the London 2012 gold medal around her neck. Douglas had been training with Valery Liukin at WOGA for nearly a year and a half, meaning Rivera was teammates with one of the greats in US gymnastics.
In an exclusive interview with Rivera’s 2023 class, she told Olympics.com: “It’s amazing because I know I can definitely succeed because I have so many people around me. I never dreamed I’d be able to train with Nastia’s parents, especially Gabby! She gives me so much advice and encouragement, it’s unbelievable.”
“It’s nice to have older gymnasts who have been through it all,” she continued of Douglas. “They know it all. It’s great.”
Rivera’s international debut
Just two years ago, Rivera made his international debut at the 2022 DTB Pokal Cup in Stuttgart, Germany, and enjoyed instant success as the USA reached the top of the podium ahead of Italy and Australia, who placed second and third, respectively.
Since then, she has competed twice on the international stage: winning silver as part of the U.S. team at the 2023 Junior World Championships in Turkey and winning the team bronze medal at the 2024 Jesolo Trophy in Italy earlier this year, while also missing the podium on the uneven bars, finishing fourth.
