US gymnast Hezly Rivera talks meeting Simone Biles at 7 — and now winning gold alongside her

Less than 24 hours after the U.S. women's gymnastics team won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera still can't quite believe their realities.

Carey, who competed in Tokyo in 2021, reflected on what the team's win meant to her on TODAY on Wednesday, July 31.

"It just feels so incredible," Carey said. "I'm super excited and super proud of this team and everything that we've overcome to get back here and on top of the podium again."

Rivera, sitting next to Carey, also shared what it was like to be a part of the winning team.

"It's so surreal being here with (this) amazing group of girls," Rivera said. "I'm so proud of this team and everything that we've worked so hard for."

Carey and Rivera, along with Simone Biles, Suni Lee and Jordan Chiles, topped the podium in the team final on July 30, marking the first time the women's gymnastics team has won gold since their victory at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

For Rivera, 16, competing on Team USA with Biles was a full-circle moment after meeting the gymnast when she was just 7 years old.

"I never would have thought that would happen, being on the same team as Simone," she said while on TODAY. "I've always looked up to her and just not even just competing with her, but training with her as well, has been such an amazing experience, and I'm so blessed to be a part of his team."

Carey appeared to have recovered from an illness she experienced last week, which she previously said affected her performance in the women's gymnastics qualification rounds on Sunday, July 28.

The 24-year-old competed in the vault at the team finals, and she shared with TODAY co-anchors Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb what was going through her mind before the event.

"I was just telling myself to be my normal self that I am every day in the gym, that I've done so much work and that I knew how to do it and it would all be over in 10 seconds," she said. "A lot of pressure on that one vault, but I knew that if I was just my normal self that it would get the job done for what the team needed."

And it was — Carey, Chiles and Biles shined on the vault, setting the team up to deliver thrilling performances on the uneven bars, balance beam and floor.

Team USA entered the final event, the floor exercise, with a slight lead of 3.602 points. Biles, Lee and Chiles then executed nearly flawless routines that cemented Team USA’s victory. Lee scored 13.533, improving on her qualifying round score of 13.100, while Chiles received 13.966. Biles was the final Team USA gymnast to complete her floor routine.

She flipped and twisted around as Taylor Swift's "...Ready For It?" blasted.

The ladies held up the American flag, smiled wide and jumped up and down to celebrate when it was revealed that they won gold.

The win came after Team USA started the day off strong. Chiles kicked things off by showing off her skills on the uneven bars. Analyst and gymnast Laurie Hernandez praised Chiles’ performance as “one of the best routines” she could’ve mastered.

The victory also means Biles became the USA gymnast with the most Olympic medals. She was previously tied with “Magnificent Seven” star Shannon Miller, who has seven Olympic medals.

Chiles later fell on the beam at the start of her routine but recovered and finished strong. Then Lee and Biles had their turns on the beam and wowed the audience, including Savannah and Hoda.

Biles, who overcame a calf injury, once again proved that she is unmatched in the sport by avoiding a fall on the beam and posting a 14.733.

After Lee, Chiles and Biles’ floor routines — in which Chiles nearly burst into tears after her impressive performance — Team USA ended the final with a score of 171.296. Italy came in second place and Brazil will receive the bronze medal.

Many famous faces like Nicole Kidman, Natalie Portman, Jason Kelce and Biles’ husband Jonathan Owens were spotted cheering on Team USA in the crowd throughout the final.

Rivera did not compete in the final after finishing behind Biles, Carey, Chiles and Lee in the qualifying round on July 28.

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This article was originally published on TODAY.com