The youngest member of the 'Final Five' who conquered Rio
In short: At just 16 years old, Laurie Hernandez became a symbol of poise under pressure. As the youngest athlete on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team, she navigated the intense spotlight of the 2016 Olympics to secure gold and silver medals, proving that age is no barrier to elite performance.
Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 2000, Laurie Hernandez began her athletic journey at age five when she requested a switch from ballet to gymnastics. Her path to the Olympics was not linear; in 2014, she faced significant setbacks including a fractured wrist and a dislocated right kneecap. However, she returned to competition in 2015, earning an all-around gold medal and medals in every other event during her comeback year.
Since 1936, Hernandez became a rare Latina to compete for America in gymnastics. During the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics, she joined teammates Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Simone Biles, and Madison Kocian—collectively known as "The Final Five." This specific team name honored coach Marta Karolyi, marking the final Olympic Games where a five-girl team was permitted before the rules changed to four persons.
On the world stage, Hernandez delivered scores of 15.100 on vault, 15.233 on balance beam, and 14.833 on floor exercise to help secure the team gold. Individually, she won a silver medal on the balance beam with a score of 15.333. Despite her success, she admitted to extreme nerves before her beam routine, confessing she felt like she might throw up before finding her composure once she began.
Following her Olympic run, Hernandez successfully transitioned into entertainment, winning Season 23 of Dancing With the Stars in November 2016 alongside partner Val Chmerkovskiy. She has since expanded her reach as a New York Times bestselling author and an actress, including a Broadway debut in the musical & Juliet in 2026.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Laurie Hernandez - Age, Family & Facts
- Also: Laurie Hernandez
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